Periodontal surgery is specialized dental surgery. It’s designed to restore and regenerate normal form and function to lost and damaged periodontal structures which support your teeth. These periodontal structures include your gum tissue, periodontal ligaments, and bone. You may need periodontal surgery if you have severe gum disease, advanced tooth decay, or other issues.
Our staff Periodontist, Dr. Wendy Burstein, specializes in Periodontal Surgery and Dental Implants. There are several main types of periodontal surgery:
When your gums recede, this often leads to root exposure which can cause root sensitivity and poor aesthetics. To resolve this problem, Dr. Burstein can place a connective tissue graft. The doctor would place the graft over the exposed root and it would blend in with the surrounding tissue. This procedure usually helps to reduce the your sensitivity to hot or cold food and liquids and enhances the appearance of your teeth.
Your frenum, or frenulum, is the soft tissue that runs in a thin line between your lips and gums. The size of your frenum or the exact point where it attaches to your gums can affect the position of your gums or even lead to a space between your teeth. Dr. Burstein can resolve these issues with a Frenectomy. This is the surgical release of the frenum muscle. If the frenum has caused loss of gum tissue, then a tissue graft may be needed to replace the missing gum tissue. A frenectomy can also improve the success of orthodontic treatment.
There are situations where advanced decay beneath your gumline can make it very difficult to restore a broken down tooth. In these situations, minor gum surgery or periodontal surgery referred to as a “crown lengthening” procedure, may be needed. In this periodontal surgery, the doctor “repositions” your gum level to expose solid tooth structure before restoring the tooth with either a filling or a crown.
We see both current patients and patients referred from other dentists for periodontal surgery. If you have been told you need periodontal surgery, contact our Cockeysville office today at (410) 666-9266 to set up an appointment for a consultation. We are taking new patients, and take many forms of dental insurance, including Delta Dental.
