There is wide range of treatments that are specifically carried out by specialist periodontists. These treatments require a unique combination of techniques and skill that ultimately produces the desired results.
See also: Before and After Cases | Our Cutting Edge Technology | Receding Gums | Why Al-Faperio?
In order to ensure a successful outcome, the most important aspect here to note is that the treatment planning stage is the most critical. This is where we plan the best way forward that also meets your specific needs and requirements. Also, the explanations given here are simplistic to allow a general understanding of the procedures. However, more often than not many of these techniques are very case specific and are selected according to the nature of the condition and final desired results.
A consultation with a periodontist can highlight the most pertinent treatments for your specific case.
Specialist Periodontal Treatments are not restricted to these but include:
Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy
These are treatment techniques that are undertaken before any surgical invasive procedures are considered. Many times we have found that these alone are adequate to resolve the conditions.
Non-surgical Periodontal Laser Therapy
We carry out this non-invasive procedure using Waterlase technology. These techniques help us to treat shallow and deep pockets. More often than not we are able to obtain great results.
Access flaps and pocket elimination surgery
On occasion especially in difficult areas we need to gain better access to the site of infection. This is achieved by using a surgical technique that allows us to get better visualisation and eliminate the detachment of the gum.
Regenerative surgical therapy
We have now been able to accomplish bone and tissue regeneration using specially devised lasers and surgical procedures. We are able to now create the right environment for your own tissues to reform.
Root resections and hemisections
On occasion in order to prolong the prognosis of a highly infected tooth we may need to take off the infected root that is also the source of the infection. This is especially true for those multi-rooted teeth at the back of the mouth.
Free gingival and connective tissue grafts
These grafts allow us to cover area for management of recession defects. These are especially useful in the front of the mouth where there may have been localised gum recession affecting the aesthetics of the smile.
Root coverage procedures
These are useful for generalised recession cases where more teeth are involved. Many times we don’t need to use any grafts and can accomplish great aesthetics using a coronal positioned flap technique that simply repositions the same gum.
Frenectomies
Sometimes the lips can be restricted in their movements or they pull on the gums causing damage. This can be because of small folds of tissue on the inside of the lips that keep the lips in place called frenum or frena. Treatment of the frenum can help in these situations.
Gingivectomies
In conditions of gingival hyperplasia (overgrowth of gums), various techniques have evolved to re-contour and cut away the excessive gum providing better conditions for aesthetics and oral hygiene.
Hard and soft tissue ridge augmentation
These are guided bone regeneration and bone grafting procedures. They can be useful when considering implant treatment or better gum aesthetics for a bridge pontic (false tooth attached to bridge).
Crown lengthening
This procedure is very useful for situations where the tooth appears shorter and requires restorative crowns to make the smile look better. On some instances this may require bone removal as well to accommodate the full length of the tooth required. This is also a great choice for treatment of ‘gummy smiles’.
Reverse Vestibuloplasties
There are several uses to this procedure which aims to reshape or deepen the area between the gum and cheeks. It can be used to lower the lip line in gummy smiles or to give more room when root coverage or implant treatment is required.
Splinting and splinted bridges
These treatments are often used in adjunct to other treatments. It helps to keep loose teeth in place whilst other foundational work is being done.
Restoration of Biological Width
In instances where longer teeth are required or in situations of a ‘gummy’ smile the gum needs to be reduced to allow for better aesthetics. However when there is not enough distance maintained between the crest of the bone and the gum (the biological width) the gum can “regrow” back into the original appearance. There are several treatments a periodontist will suggest after careful measurements of the condition.
Supportive Periodontal (Maintenance) Therapy
On occasion we may have to intervene with treatment when we feel that the previous treatment plan is not resolving the condition or the treatment is not responding how we anticipated. This can occur in situations of excessive infection or compromised medical histories. The treatment prescribed is based upon the re-diagnosis and re-risk assessment of the tissues.
