Surgical Periodontal Procedures
Even if you’re very careful about the health of your teeth, you might need periodontal surgery to protect your gums. A periodontal procedure focuses on the soft tissue that supports and provides blood flow to your teeth. Most procedures are intended to curb the spread of gingivitis or gum disease.
Prior to any gum procedure, your teeth are usually cleaned and X-rays may be taken to determine the extent of periodontal disease. Most procedures can be performed in about an hour using local anesthetic. Conscious sedation dentistry is available for periodontal work upon request.
Afterwards, you may receive medication to prevent infection if any incision has been made.
We offer the following treatments at Dental Health Associates:
Gingival Flap and Root Planing
Gingival flap surgery is a treatment that involves separating gums from the teeth to access infected areas. During planing, deep cleaning is performed beneath the gum line.
LANAP
LANAP uses a powerful medical laser to carefully eliminate infected gum tissue. It is the only treatment so far shown to promote gum tissue regeneration as well as bone regeneration.
Connective Tissue Graft
During this procedure, tissue from within a small incision made in the roof of the mouth is used to augment gum tissue around an exposed root of a tooth.
Free Gingival Graft
In this procedure, an exposed tooth root is protected using a layer of tissue from the palate. It can be used to defend the patient’s original teeth or dental implants.
Extractions
Tooth extraction can be necessary for a wide range of reasons, typically due to decay or trauma.
Implant Placement
Dental implants are specialized screws, generally made of titanium, that are used to anchor full-sized replacement teeth. A few months after the implant is placed, the artificial tooth is placed and anchored atop it.
Bone Grafting/Ridge Augmentation
In periodontal bone grafting, a small incision is made in the gums to add grafting materials to the underlying bone. This is helpful in situations where gum disease has led to bone loss.
Sinus Augmentation
Also called sinus lift, this procedure entails adding bone between the jaw and the maxillary sinuses located on each side of the nose.
Biopsy
A biopsy is traditionally performed when a growth or lesion somewhere in the body must be analyzed to determine whether it is malignant. Only a small incision is necessary.
Crown Lengthening/Crown Exposure
Crown lengthening is used to reduce the appearance of excess gum tissue. Extra tissue can make teeth appear too short. The removal of hard or soft tissue can allow access for restorative work to be completed, which is why crown lengthening serves as a first step in many restorative procedures.
Osseous Surgery
Osseous surgery is used to protect the long-term health of a tooth with a severe periodontal pocket. The surrounding bone is smoothed and reshaped to make the pocket shallower.
Frenectomy
In this procedure, a muscular attachment between tissues in the mouth is removed to prevent it from obstructing normal function.
Gingivectomy
This treatment involves removal of severely infected gum tissue. There are several reasons that a gingivectomy might be performed – but mostly it is to reduce gingival enlargements, asymmetrical or unaesthetic gingival topography.
Exposure of Unerupted Teeth
Unerupted teeth can be protected from complications by reshaping or removing some gum tissue.