Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins.

Eliminating bacteria with non-surgical treatment may not be possible in some cases and may not be sufficient to prevent disease progression. Periodontal surgery allows us to gain access to the roots for improved bacteria removal and to reduce pockets that harbor bacteria, thus preventing further breakdown of the tooth’s support system.

This is a surgical procedure designed to regenerate the bone and ligament tissue that attach to the tooth root. In order to stimulate the body’s natural ability to grow bone and tissue, a combination of bone graft materials such as cadaver bone, collagen membranes, and growth factor proteins may be utilized.

A Free Gingival Graft is a gum grafting procedure used to rebuild new gum tissue around teeth or implants. This procedure requires healthy gum tissue from the side of the palate to be removed and placed to a damaged area.

A subepithelial connective tissue graft rebuilds missing gum tissue and covers exposed roots in areas of recession. The connective tissue comes from the under the patients healthy gums on the palate or from human cadaver tissue.

Periodontal maintenance is a protocol for managing periodontal disease following periodontal therapy.  Periodontal disease is not “cured” but “arrested”.  Like other chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, our treatment is aimed at controlling or managing the disease.

The crown lengthening procedure is often done to assist the restoring doctor.  If a tooth is broken or has extensive decay there may not be enough tooth structure remaining to repair.  In the crown lengthening procedure, we remove some gum tissue and bone to expose more tooth for a crown or filling to attach onto.