Surgical Dentistry
Periodontal Surgery
At Silicon Valley Smile Solutions we provide a variety of periodontal surgical procedures to help improve your oral health, including:
Silicon Valley Smile Solutions Offering Periodontal Surgery
Gum Grafting
At Silicon Valley Smile Solutions, Dr. HagShenas provides patients with a comprehensive surgical as well as non-surgical approach to addressing periodontal disease. There are many different manifestations of periodontal breakdown of oral tissues. Gum recession is among such manifestations. When recession of the gingiva occurs, the body loses a natural defense against both bacterial penetration and trauma. When gum recession is a problem, gum reconstruction using grafting techniques is an option.
When there is only minor recession, some healthy gingiva often remains and protects the tooth, so that no treatment other than modifying home care practices is necessary. However, when recession gets deeper and reaches the mucosa, the first line of defense against bacterial penetration is lost.
In addition, gum recession often results in root sensitivity to hot and cold foods as well as an unsightly appearance to the gum and tooth. Gum recession, when significant, can predispose to worsening recession and expose the root surface, which is softer than enamel, leading to root caries and root gouging.
A gingival graft is designed to solve these problems. A thin piece of tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth, or gently moved over from adjacent areas, to provide a stable band of attached gingiva around the tooth. The gingival graft may be placed in such a way as to cover the exposed portion of the root.
The gingival graft procedure is highly predictable and results in a stable healthy band of attached tissue around the tooth.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening (or crown exposure) is required when your tooth needs a new crown or other restoration. The edge of the existing dental problems such as decay 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 Dr. HagShenas 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 sometimes 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.
Osseous Surgery
Traditionally, gum disease is treated by eliminating the gum pockets. The infected gum tissue is conservatively modified, and uneven bone tissue re-contoured. Although this is still an effective way of treating gum disease, new and more regenerative procedures are used routinely today.
Bone Grafting
Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or gets depleted. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.
Today, we have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance.
Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip or tibia (below the knee.) Sinus bone grafts are also performed to replace bone in the posterior upper jaw. In addition, special membranes may be utilized that dissolve under the gum and protect the bone graft and encourage bone regeneration. This is called guided bone regeneration or guided tissue regeneration.
Ridge Expansion
In severe cases, the ridge has been reabsorbed and a bone graft is placed to increase ridge height and/or width. This is a technique used to restore the lost bone dimension when the jaw ridge gets too thin to place conventional implants. In this procedure, the bony ridge of the jaw is literally expanded by mechanical means. Bone graft material can be placed and matured for a few months before placing the implant.
Ridge Preservation
Careful management of extraction sockets after tooth extraction prevents excessive bone loss and provides a better functional and cosmetic outcome for tooth replacement.
