When advanced gum disease (Pyorrhea/periodontitis) develops, your teeth
are in danger: At this stage, the periodontal ligaments and bone tissue that
surround them are being destroyed, and you could even begin losing teeth!
• Types of treatment
- Scaling and Polishing
- Root planning & Currettage
- Flap Surgery
If the disease can't be controlled by non-surgical treatments like
cleaning and scaling, then periodontal flap surgery may be your best
treatment option.
Flap surgery is today's leading method for treating and repairing
periodontal pockets.
• What are these “pockets?”
They are areas below the gum line where gum tissue has detached from the teeth, resulting in an uncleansable space where harmful bacteria can proliferate. These bacteria cause inflammation of the tissues, resulting in sensitivity, bleeding, and pain. If left untreated, they can cause a host of problems including gum disease, loss of the tooth-supporting bone structure, and possibly even systemic (whole-body) problems.
• The Goals of Flap Surgery
One major objective of flap surgery is to eliminate or reduce the pocket
itself. To access it, a flap-like incision is made in the gum tissue. This
allows diseased tissue to be removed from inside the pocket, and provides
access to the teeth's root surfaces for a thorough cleaning, which helps to
eliminate harmful plaque and calculus (tartar). Afterward, the “flap” is
closed, sealing the area. This begins the healing process, which takes
place rapidly.
Another goal is the regeneration of periodontal ligament and bone tissue
which may have been lost to the disease. A variety of techniques may be
used to accomplish this, including high-tech methods of bone grafting and
chemicals referred to as growth factors. These approaches help restore the
gums to their normal form and function, and promote the healthy and
secure anchoring of teeth. If needed, the area may also be treated with
antibiotics or other medications. Bone defects can be repaired with grafting
material, and proper regeneration of the periodontal ligament can be
encouraged by physical (barrier membranes) and chemical (growth factors)
methods. Finally, the incision is closed and the procedure is completed.
Performed by an experienced hand, state-of-the-art flap surgery has an
excellent track record and offers well-established benefits. It's often the
treatment of choice for relieving periodontal disease and helping to
maintain your oral health — and preserve your teeth.
• DEPIGMENTATION
Pigmentation of gingiva not just has an impact on esthetics but also creates psychological negativity. A wide array of depigmentation techniques are available to manage this condition like:
- Scalpel Surgical Technique
- Lasers
• FRENECTOMY
Aesthetic concerns have led to an increasing importance in seeking dental treatment, with the purpose of achieving perfect smile. The frenum is a mucous membrane fold that attaches the lip and the cheek to the alveolar mucosa, the gingiva, and the underlying periosteum. The frena may jeopardize the gingival health when they are attached too closely to the gingival margin, either due to an interference in the plaque control or due to a muscle pull. In addition to this, the maxillary frenum may present aesthetic problems or compromise the orthodontic result in the midline diastema cases, thus causing a recurrence after the treatment. The management of such an aberrant frenum is accomplished by performing a frenectomy.