Specialist Gum Treatments

Crown Lengthening

Periodontal procedures are available to prepare your mouth for cosmetic dentistry or to improve the appearance of your gums.

Patients who wish to improve a ‘gummy’ smile may benefit from crown lengthening treatment. During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth, to even your gum line, or to several teeth to expose a natural, broad smile. Crown lengthening may also be recommended to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible if the tooth is decayed or broken below the gum line.

Soft tissue grafts

Soft tissue procedures are available to treat gum recession (shrinkage) or to improve the appearance of your gums.

Exposed tooth roots are the result of gum recession. The gums may recede for a variety of reasons including aggressive tooth brushing or periodontal (gum) diseases. Once these factors have been controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure can repair the damage and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss. During this procedure, healthy gum is taken from elsewhere in your mouth to cover the exposed root. This can be done for on tooth or several teeth to produce an even gum line and reduce sensitivity.

Periodontal disease

Periodontal diseases (periodontitis) are infections that destroy the gums and the supporting bone that holds your teeth.

The main cause of periodontitis is bacterial plaque, a sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth. If the plaque is not removed, it can turn into a hard substance called calculus or tartar. The bacteria in plaque infect the gums and release toxins that cause redness and inflammation. This causes destruction of the tissues that support the teeth, including the bone. When this happens, the gums separate from the teeth forming pockets that fill with even more plaque causing even more infection. Periodontitis can also be caused or made worse by several other factors. These include, tobacco use, genetics, stress, medication and other diseases.

Periodontal diseases do not always cause noticeable symptoms. Some people may have periodontitis but may be unaware that they have disease. Common symptoms and signs of periodontal diseases include:

Red, swollen or tender gums
Bleeding when brushing or flossing
Receding gums
Loose or separating teeth
Pus or discharge from the gums
Persistent bad breath
A change in the way your teeth meet when you bite

Periodontal diseases can be successfully managed with careful treatment. The treatment of periodontal diseases can vary, depending on how far the disease has progressed. If diagnosed and treated in the early stages, non-surgical periodontal therapy may be sufficient.

Good oral hygiene and professional care are the keys to keeping your teeth for a lifetime. The best way to prevent periodontal diseases is to remove the bacterial plaque by thorough brushing and flossing every day. Good oral hygiene habits will help keep the formation of plaque to a minimum. Preventing or controlling periodontal diseases is a worthwhile commitment that will keep you smiling for life.

Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal treatment involves meticulous cleaning of the root surfaces below the gum line to remove plaque, toxins and tartar from pockets around the teeth. This procedure is more intensive than a routine scale and polish, which traditionally occurs every three or six months. The treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic, to numb the area prior to treatment. Research has consistently demonstrated that thorough treatment reduces gingival inflammation and probing depths. Therefore, this is usually the first type of treatment recommended for most periodontal patients.

New products are available that may also be recommended as part of your periodontal therapy to help eliminate the infection or decrease its negative effects. Local delivery antimicrobials are types of medication that can be delivered directly into gums to suppress or eradicate periodontal bacteria. They contain an antibiotic agent that is slowly released into the pocket over time. Host modulators are drugs that are taken orally for a period of time to reduce inflammation caused by the immune response to periodontal bacteria. They improve the results of periodontal treatment without causing serious side effects.

Once the gum disease (periodontitis) has been controlled, most patients will require ongoing periodontal maintenance procedures to sustain health. This ongoing phase of treatment will allow the periodontist to assess your gums and make sure that your infection stays under control or remains eliminated. During these appointments, your mouth will be examined, new calculus and plaque will be removed and, if necessary, further treatment can be discussed. Without careful, ongoing treatment, periodontal diseases can and often do recur.

Periodontal surgery

Periodontal surgery procedures may be recommended if there are pockets that are too deep to clean with daily at-home oral hygiene measures. The gum tissue is gently folded back to allow further removal of the disease-causing bacteria before securing the tissue back into place. In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed to remove areas where bacteria can hide. This allows the gum tissue to better re-attach to healthy bone.

Reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria are important to prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to maintain a healthy smile. Eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Deeper pockets are more difficult for you to clean, so it’s important that they are reduced. Shallow pockets and a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care increase your chances of keeping your natural teeth.

Regenerative Treatment

In certain cases, regenerative procedures can reverse some of the damage caused by periodontal diseases by recreating lost bone and tissue. During treatment, membranes, bone grafts or tissue-stimulating proteins can be used to encourage your body’s natural ability to regenerate bone and tissue. There are many options to enhance the support for your teeth and to restore your bone to a healthy level.

Eliminating existing bacteria and regenerating bone and tissue helps to reduce pocket depth and repair damage caused by the progression of periodontal diseases.

Supportive periodontal treatment

Once the periodontitis has been controlled, most patients will require ongoing periodontal maintenance procedures to keep their gums healthy. This ongoing phase of treatment will allow the periodontist to assess your gums and make sure that your infection stays under control or remains eliminated. During these appointments, your mouth will be examined, new calculus and plaque will be removed and, if necessary, further treatment can be discussed. Without careful, ongoing treatment, periodontal diseases can and often do recur.