Gum and jawbone corrective treatments are performed to enhance your facial appearance and smile. Some of the conditions such as periodontal disease, birth defect, and traumatic injuries may necessitate gum and jawbone corrective treatments.
Gum Corrective Treatments
Some of the most common gum corrective treatments include:
Crown Lengthening (Gum Lift)
Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure performed to improve a "gummy" smile, because of short teeth. During the procedure, excess gum tissue and some bone are reshaped to expose a larger portion of the tooth, for a better smile. In addition, crown lengthening procedures can also be used to create an even gumline for dental crowns and other restorative procedures.
Gum Grafts
Gum grafting procedures help restore your smile and protect your teeth from gum recession (retraction of the gums away from the tooth). During the procedure, a thin strip of tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth and stitched to the gum tissue, surrounding the exposed root. A gum graft aims to re-contour the gum line and improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
Pocket reduction surgery is a periodontal surgery performed to clean the root surfaces of the teeth, beneath the gum line. In this procedure, the gum tissue is gently separated from the tooth and special ultrasonic or hand instruments are used to remove plaque and tartar from the root of your teeth. Then, an antimicrobial liquid may be administered to eliminate any remaining bacteria and promote healing. Pocket reduction surgery may be indicated to restore healthy gums and bone.
Jaw Corrective Treatments
Some of the most common jaw corrective treatments include:
Sinus Augmentation
Sinus augmentation is often needed prior to implant placement. The key to a successful implant is the quality and quantity of jawbone to which the implant will be attached. If the jaw bone has been lost due to injury or periodontal disease, sinus augmentation is performed to raise the sinus floor and allow new bone formation. In the sinus augmentation technique, a tiny incision is made into the bone and the sinus membrane is lifted from the bony sinus floor to create a space. The underlying space is filled with bone graft material and the incision is closed. Once the bone graft site has healed, the implants are placed.
Ridge Modification
A ridge modification procedure is performed to correct deformities in the upper and lower jaws that occur as a result of periodontal disease, trauma or developmental problems. As a result of birth defects, the jawbone becomes deformed and is unable to support the implants. In this procedure, the gum is lifted to expose the defect in the bone. The bony defect can be filled with bone graft material or a bone substitute and the incisions are closed. Ridge modification procedures improve the cosmetic appearance of the jaw and assist in the placement of implants.
Bone Grafts
Bone grafting is a procedure required to increase the thickness of the jaw bone for stabilizing the dental implant. Bone grafting can also be used to elevate the sinus membrane, fill any structural bone defects, or allow nerve repositioning. The bone grafts can be synthetically created or taken from the lower jaw or the iliac bone of the pelvis. During the procedure, a tiny opening is made in the jaw bone and the grafting material is packed. Once healing is complete, restorative treatments are performed.
Consult your dentist if you have any queries regarding gum and jaw corrective treatments.