Periodontology

Periodontology deals with diseases of tissues surrounding the tooth and with diseases of the oral mucosa. Periodontologic procedures are undertaken after specialist consultancy and diagnostics. We also emphasize the importance of appropriate prevention.

Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing also known as scaling and curretage is a conservative cleaning procedure. The purpose is to remove hard deposits and infection from beneath the gum and clean the root surfaces. Non-surgical treatment is usually a very effective treatment which will allow the effected tissues to heal. This is most effective in the early stages of periodontal disease.

If you're diagnosed with periodontal disease, your periodontist may recommend periodontal surgery. Periodontal surgery is necessary when your periodontist determines that the tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and cannot be repaired with non-surgical treatment. Following are the four types of surgical treatments most commonly prescribed:

Pocket Reduction Procedures

Pocket reduction is a periodontal surgery procedure where the doctor first holds back the gums and eliminates the bacteria. Generally, painful scraping will be required to remove the ossification (scale) on the tooth or root. If the root is damaged or not smooth, the doctor will have to plane the root and remove even more root in order to smooth it back out (the gums will not reattach to uneven or rough surfaces). Once finished, the last part of this periodontal procedure generally involves an antimicrobial treatment to eliminate any remaining bacteria. In most cases, no further periodontal surgery is required and good oral hygiene should be enough to prevent the gum disease from returning.

Regenerative Procedures

The purpose of this procedure is to regenerate damaged bone and supporting tissue (gums). When performing this form of periodontal surgery, a doctor will perform a bone graft first and then follow it up with treatments of tissue-stimulating proteins. If successful, the gums will be able to reattach to the bone).

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure performed by a dentist to expose a greater amount of tooth structure for the purpose of subsequently restoring the tooth prosthetically.

Soft Tissue Grafts

This procedure is required when the degenerative process has proceeded to the point that the root is exposed due to gum loss. In a soft tissue graft periodontal surgery, tissue is removed from other parts of the mouth such as the palate and then grafted over the exposed root. Of course, before such a periodontal surgery can be performed, the bacteria causing the problem must first be eradicated).