What to Ask Your Periodontist at Your Periodontal Plastic Surgery Consultation

A periodontist performs periodontal plastic surgery to help restore damage caused by gum disease. Gum disease is an infection of gum tissues caused by the bacteria in plaque and tartar. The infection leads to antibodies being dispatched to the area, leading to inflammation and damage to structures that support teeth.

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and it can be stopped and reversed with improved dental hygiene and regular teeth cleanings. The second stage of gum disease is periodontitis, and it can only be managed with treatments and periodontal plastic surgery.

Early detection of gum disease is crucial given how easy it is to reverse its early stage. The second stage of gum disease leads to teeth becoming loose or falling out of the mouth due to the bone and tissue structures that hold them in place being damaged.

Our periodontist explains how periodontal plastic surgery works

Just like cosmetic surgery is performed to improve how someone looks, periodontal plastic surgery improves how a patient’s smile looks. Gum disease comes with symptoms like spaces forming between teeth, receding gums, and teeth falling out of their sockets. All these things negatively impact how a person’s smile looks.

Some of the treatments a periodontist might recommend to restore the smiles of patients battling periodontal disease include:

• Dental implants: These oral prosthetics serve as synthetic teeth roots that are placed in the patient’s jaw. They can be fitted with crowns or other restorations, and they help to keep bone tissues in the jaw healthy. Implants provide a long-term solution for missing teeth that feels and looks natural. They do not require specialized care, allowing patients to get back to their regular routine after their installation
• Root coverage: This treatment is usually recommended when teeth roots are left exposed due to receding gums. During the procedure, donor gum tissues are extracted from areas like the roof of the mouth and stitched over exposed teeth roots. The treatment protects teeth roots from decay, and it negates the long look receding gums give teeth
• Ridge augmentation: This procedure is performed to address irregularities in the jaw and gums after a tooth has been extracted. The procedure can also be performed to prevent the socket from closing up after a tooth has been extracted. It is sometimes performed before implants are installed
• Pocket reduction: This treatment is performed to clean out gum pockets to fight the infection being caused by the tartar there. It involves pulling back gum tissues from teeth roots so tartar can be removed
• Crown lengthening: This procedure is used to address patients with gummy smiles. It involves removing excess gum tissues from the base of teeth, so they look longer. It also reduces how much of the patient’s gums are exposed when they smile