YOUR HEALTHY SMILE

Resources (Page 1)

CREATING

REJUVENATING

RESTORING

843-669-1836

S. Edward Parker, DDS, PA

SCALING and ROOT PLANNING --- Many times the early stages of periodontal disease are best treated with non-surgical therapy. Even in severe cases of disease, non-surgical therapy often precedes surgical therapy. This is done to improve the overall tissue quality prior to surgical consideration and also to often limit the areas requiring surgical consideration.

This initial therapy is referred to as scaling and root planning. This procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia and entails subgingival cleaning where the plaque and tartar is removed from beneath the gum as thoroughly as possible. By doing so, some shrinkage of tissue is accomplished and in some cases, the seal is re-established.

When deep pockets between teeth and gums are present, it is difficult to completely remove the plaque and tartar and the patient can seldom, if ever, keep these pockets clean and free of infection. Consequently, surgical correction may be needed to restore periodontal health.

OSSEOUS SURGERY

What is osseous surgery?

Osseous surgery is a type of surgery that involves reshaping of the bone under the gum. Most of the damage associated with periodontal disease occurs in the underlying bone; osseous means bone. Bone is frequently destroyed by the infection associated with gum disease. This irregular bone will prevent the gum from laying down flat and sealing to the tooth. Reshaping the bone with osseous surgery will allow the gum to lay down flat and reseal.

Periodontal disease destroys the supporting bone, forming “pockets” around the teeth. As bacteria accumulate around the teeth, they develop colonies in these pockets. Over time , these pockets become deeper providing a larger space for bacteria to live. As these deep pockets collect more bacteria there is an increase in loss of supporting bone. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will need to be extracted due to a lack of support.

During osseous surgery , Dr. Parker retracts the gum tissue and removes the disease –causing bacteria. Before securing the healthy tissue back in place, any irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed to limit areas where bacteria can hide. This allows the gum to properly attach to healthy bone.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

Reducing pocket depth and eliminating bacteria are important to prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to help you maintain a healthy smile. Eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Reduced pockets combined with effective daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care increase your chances of keeping your natural teeth for your lifetime.

GINGIVAL PLASTIC SURGERY

Short teeth --- If you are unhappy with the appearance of short unsightly teeth, this can often be greatly improved by a gingival plastic surgery procedure known as crown lengthening. Although your teeth appear short, they may actually be the proper length. The teeth may be covered with too much gingival (gum) tissue. This procedure is used to remove the excess tissue and reshape the remaining tissue to give a more natural appearance. This can be accomplished for a single tooth or more than one tooth, to even your gum line and create a more beautiful smile.

Recession --- For teeth showing unsightly root surfaces, the soft tissue (gingival) graft is a predictable way to correct this problem and prevent future gum recession. It is used to cover unattractive tooth roots that make teeth look too long. In the process of reducing recession, you reduce the chance of further recession, possibly reduce sensitivity, and protect the roots ( which are more vulnerable ) from decay.

Ridge Deficiency --- Tooth loss causes the jawbone to recede and can lead to an unnatural looking indention in your gums and jaw, an appearance of aging. The original look of your mouth may not be recaptured because of spaces remaining under and between replacement teeth. They may appear too long compared to nearby teeth. Bone grafting at time of extraction to preserve ridge or in some cases a soft tissue graft later will minimize this ridge collapse and make for a more esthetic replacement.

 

 

1509 Heritage Lane, Florence, SC 29505 • • Monday – Thursday, 8am to 5pm • Fax 843-669-0141 • Phone 843-669-1836