Procedures that can rebuild lost bone and tissue around teeth to attempt to repair some of the damage caused by periodontal disease.
These regenerative procedures may be recommended to rebuild lost tissue if the situation is favorable for likely success. This can include smoking cessation.
During this procedure, the gum tissue will be folded back and the disease-causing bacteria and diseased tissue will be removed. Membranes, bone grafts and/or tissue-stimulating proteins can be used to encourage your body’s natural healing ability to regrow bone and tissue. Special care will be required during the healing phase which may include the use of oral antibiotics, mouth rinses and pain relievers. Follow-up care will also be required to assess the bone and tissue healing.
The process of eliminating existing bacteria and regenerating bone and tissue helps to reduce pocket depth and repair the damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease. The combination of regenerative procedures, daily home care and professional maintenance can increase the chances of keeping your natural teeth.
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Deformities in the upper or lower jaw after tooth loss can result in inadequate amounts of bone in which to place dental implants. The deformities may be the result of periodontal disease, pressure from dentures, disuse atrophy, injury or trauma.
To correct the problem a bone graft would be recommended to add bone to your existing jaw. The amount of missing bone that requires replacement will dictate what type of bone grafting that would be required to rebuild the missing bone. The gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitute. Different grafting material can be used to build up the ridge and a membrane or barrier tissue is then placed over the grafting material to keep the bone graft in place. The different material options will be discussed.
The graft material is covered with your own gum tissue and the incision is closed and allowed to heal. Depending on your individual needs the bone usually will be allowed to develop and heal for about 4 to 12 months before implants can be placed. In some cases the implants can be placed at the same time as ridge modification.