Periodontal Surgery

Dental Implants   •   Root Coverage  •   Crown Lengthening
Ridge Augmentation  •   Combination Procedures

Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place, or to provide support for a denture.

Reasons for Dental Implants
Dental implants are the answer for many people with missing or damaged teeth — they look and feel just like your own teeth. Implants enhance smiles and prevent bone loss that often accompanies dentures.

Dental Implant This patient lost her front tooth and did not want traditional bridgework which would require cutting down of adjacent teeth. The dental implant is indistinguishable from the natural tooth. The patient can smile, speak, and eat again with comfort and confidence.

X-ray of Implant This dental implant was successfully fused to the jawbone and covered with a crown to provide natural looking teeth without having to crown adjacent teeth.

Root Coverage

During root coverage, gum tissue from your palate or other materials are used to facilitate coverage of the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and save your tooth.

Reasons for Root Coverage
Soft tissue grafts can be used to cover roots, develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession or to make prosthetic devices, such as dental implants, took natural. Jo some cases, they can cover exposed roots to protect them from decay and prepare teeth for orthodontic treatment. This may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve the esthetics of your smile as well.

Othodonthics

Exposed Roots

Dental Implant

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a procedure to remove the excess gum tissue, exposing more of the "crown" of the tooth. The gum line is then sculpted (or sutured) to create the right proportion between gum tissue and tooth surface. This sets the stage, allowing your new veneers or crowns to have the correct length and shape.

Reasons for Crown Lengthening
This procedure is for patients who feel their teeth are too short (known as a gummy smile) or their gum line is uneven.

Gummy Smile

Postorthodontic

Ridge Augmentation

Ridge augmentation procedures are used to correct concavities in the jawbone where natural teeth are missing (depressions).

Reasons for Ridge Augmentation
Ridge augmentation corrects depressions in your gum line that are unnatural looking and sometimes make you seem older than you really are by allowing your cheeks to sink into the depressions. It is also used to prevent the jawbone from collapsing following tooth extraction, and helps to even out replacement teeth that may seem too long compared to adjacent teeth.

Asymmetrical Bridge

Ridge Deficiency

Combination Procedures

A combination of periodontal procedures can result in a beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health — your keys to smiling, eating, and speaking with comfort and confidence.

Reasons for Combination Procedures
Your periodontist may use several different types of procedures to build a framework for your perfect smile. Oftentimes, periodontal plastic surgery lays the foundation for further cosmetic enhancements by your general dentist.

Veneers

A Perfect Smile