As Fresno comprehensive care dentists, Dr. Claudia Denes and Dr. Alex Denes strive to help our patients achieve and maintain healthy smiles in the most conservative way possible. Sometimes, however, conservative treatment is not an option to effectively and efficiently treat severe periodontal disease. Today, Dr. Denes wants to discuss ways to surgically treat periodontal (gum) disease.
Treating Periodontal Disease in Fresno
Depending on the severity of your gum disease, Dr. Denes might recommend treatment from a periodontist. While working hand in hand with Dr. Denes, your periodontist might determine that the gum tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and past the point of non-surgical treatment.
The most commonly prescribed surgical treatments include:
- Pocket Depth Reduction: When you have gum disease, your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, destroying the bone and forming periodontal pockets of bacteria between the teeth and gums. As bacteria colonize within the pockets, the pockets become deeper. During pocket depth reduction, your periodontist will gently fold back the gum tissue and remove the harmful bacteria. Then, the gum tissue will be secured back in place. Many periodontists choose to smooth any irregular surfaces of damaged bone during pocket depth reduction procedures.
- Regeneration: During regeneration procedures, your periodontist will gently fold back the gum tissue and remove the harmful bacteria. Your periodontist will use membranes (filters), bone grafts, or tissue-stimulating proteins to encourage your body to regenerate healthy bone and gum tissue.
- Clinical Crown Lengthening: Also used to improve the appearance of a “gummy” smile, crown lengthening involves the removal of infected gum tissue. During the procedure, your periodontist will shape any excess gum and bone tissue to expose more of the natural tooth.
- Gum Grafting: Gum grafts are used to cover exposed dental roots. During the procedure, your periodontist will take a small portion of gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done to several teeth to even your gum line, encourage the growth of healthy gum tissue, and reduce sensitivity.
If you notice any of the warning signs of periodontal disease—red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, etc.—call Fresno Dental Studio in Fresno, California at (559) 297-1800 to reserve an appointment. We serve patients from Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Mendota, Orange Cove, Reedley, Selma, and the surrounding areas.