Gum & Bone Treatment in Redwood City

In addition to the development of pockets and bone loss, periodontal disease can cause the gums to recede, exposing the roots of the teeth. Unfortunately, as a tooth's root loses its overlying soft tissue, it becomes more vulnerable to decay, sensitivity, and additional bone loss. It's also worth mentioning that gum recession can also exact a toll on smile aesthetics, creating an unsightly smile line displaying varying amounts of uncovered root structure. While gum recession often results from periodontal disease, aggressive toothbrushing, and other habits can also wear away gum tissue.

Scaling & Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

By performing a deep cleaning, which is also known as a scaling and root planing, your dentist and dental hygienist can remove any excessive buildup of plaque and tartar that has accumulated around your teeth in the area below the gumline. The goal of this procedure is to treat periodontal disease by eliminating inflammation and reducing the size of pockets between the teeth and gums. While a dental scaling is intended to carefully eliminate any accumulated deposits on the surface of the tooth below the gumline, a root planing goes deeper to smooth the surface of the root so that the gums can properly reattach and heal.

The dentist will determine how many visits your scaling and root planing will require and how many sections of your mouth will be addressed at each appointment. Deep cleanings coupled with an excellent regimen of oral hygiene at home can be effective in restoring your periodontal health. If the tissues do not respond to this intervention, additional procedures including periodontal surgery will be considered.

Gingival Graft

In addition to the development of pockets and bone loss, periodontal disease can cause the gums to recede, thereby exposing the roots of the teeth. When the root of a tooth loses its overlying soft tissue, it becomes more vulnerable to decay, sensitivity and additional bone loss. Gum recession also takes a toll on smile aesthetics.

By performing a gum graft procedure, which is also known as a “gingival graft or soft tissue graft,” the dentist replaces the soft tissue over the exposed area of the tooth to address the problems created by receding gums.  Gum tissue for grafting procedures can be harvested from a nearby site in the mouth or obtained from another donor source. A gum graft may be performed on a single tooth or multiple ones. And, based upon the needs of the case, the dentist will determine which type of gum graft to employ.

Bone Grafts

In cases of periodontal disease, an osseous grafting procedure may be necessary to address the bony defects around a tooth that have been caused by the progression of periodontal disease. An osseous grafting procedure, which involves guided tissue regeneration, rebuilds the bone and supporting tissues that have been lost. During this surgical procedure, the roots of the involved teeth are thoroughly cleaned and the bony defects prepared and filled with a suitable bone graft material. The bone graft is then covered by special membrane and the gums are then sutured back into place. With healing and time the osseous graft will fill in for the lost bone, thereby providing renewed support for the tooth.