Surgical Procedures

Osseous Surgery

Traditionally, gum disease is treated by eliminating the gum pockets. The infected gum tissue is trimmed away, and uneven bone tissue re-contoured. Although this is still an effective way of treating gum disease, new and more sophisticated procedures are used routinely today.

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening (or crown exposure) is required when your tooth needs a new crown or other restoration. The edge of that restoration is deep below the gum tissue and not accessible. It is also usually too close to the bone or below the bone.

The procedure involves adjusting the levels of the gum tissue and bone around the tooth in question, to create a new gum-to –tooth relationship. This allows us to reach the edge of the restoration, ensuring a proper fit to the tooth. It should also provide enough tooth structure so the new restoration will not come loose in the future. This allows you to clean the edge of the restoration when you brush and floss to prevent decay and gum disease. The procedure takes approximately one hour.

When the procedure is completed, sutures and a protective “bandage” are placed to help secure the new gum-to-tooth relationship. You will need to be seen in one or two weeks to remove the sutures and evaluate your healing.

Guided Tissue Bone Regeneration

Traditionally, eliminating the gum pockets by trimming away the infected gum tissue and by re-contouring the uneven bone tissue treats gum disease. Although this is still an effective way of treating gum disease, new and more sophisticated procedures are used routinely today.

Guided Tissue Bone Regeneration "regenerates" the previously lost gum and bone tissue. Most techniques utilize membranes, which are inserted over the bone defects. Some of these membranes are bio-absorbable and some require removal. Other regenerative procedures involve the use of bioactive gels.

Frenectomy

The frenum is connective tissue that attaches to the lip to the gum. Sometimes this connection may be large and comes too close to the teeth. This creates a fibrous mass that can potentially hold the 2 front teeth apart. The frenum attachment is removed, and heals in about two weeks. In addition, the gum tissue is often contoured to make the teeth look longer and equal in length resulting in a prettier smile.