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Periodontists.
As Periodontists, we treat diseases of the supporting hard and soft tissues of the teeth. We also reconstruct these tissues when they are missing, lost, or have been damaged by disease. Once disease has been arrested, and reconstruction has been completed, we play a key role in aiding you in the maintenance of these cases. The following information deals with different case of types and dental problems that are appropriated for referral to the periodontist.
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Periodontitis.
Periodontal disease that has resulted in loss of periodontal attachment leading to deep "pockets" around teeth are appropriate cases for referral. Many different treatment modalities are employed in the treatment of periodontitis, including surgical and non-surgical therapies. Surgery is indicated when pocket depths are not maintainable by the patient or hygienist. Guided tissue regeneration is a surgical modality used to regenerate lost supporting alveolar bone around teeth, or to reconstruct bone around implants. This technique is also used to augment bone in edentulous ridges and extraction sites in preparation for implant placement, or prosthetic dentistry.
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Mucogingival Problems.
Soft tissue deficiencies around teeth are a common problem in dentistry. Recession, root abrasion and ablation, root decay, dentinal hypersensititvity, and compromised cosmetics are all complications that can result from mucogingival defects. Free gingival grafting coronally repositioned and lateral sliding pedicle grafts, the double papilla graft, and subepithelial connective tissue grafts are all soft tissue procedures that can be used to correct mucogingival problems. The type of graft used is dictated by the needs of a specific clinical situation.
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Frenectomies and Fiberotomies.
Frenectomy procedures remove unfavorable soft tissue and muscle attachments from around teeth. Many times they are performed in conjunction with free gingival grafts to correct mucogingival defects. Fiberotomies release the connective tissue attachments from around teeth to aid in the retention of rotated teeth which have been orthodontically treated.
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Ridge Augmentations.
Soft and hard tissue grafts are performed to augment edentulous ridges to enhance the functional and aesthetic results of restorative dentistry. Anterior extraction sites can be augmented with bone graft material to improve the aesthetics of fixed prosthetic work, or to improve the predictability of dental implant placement. Connective tissue grafts can be performed to augment ridges and improve gingival contours beneath pontics.
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Crown Lengthening.
Teeth with inadequate crown exposure can be difficult, if not impossible to restore. Surgical removal of hard and soft tissue around teeth can improve access for complete caries removal, expose healthy tooth structure on which sound restorative margins can be created, and provide adequate biological width for soft tissue health around restorations.
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Oral Pathology.
Oral lesions of soft and hard tissues can be identified, diagnosed, and biopsied by the periodontist. Appropriate treatment modalities can then be formulated and completed by the periodontist with input from the oral pathologist and other dental specialists as necessary.
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Dental Implants.
Endosseous dental implants can be predictably placed in many patients. They can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or can be used as overdenture abutments. Soft tissue management is an integral factor in enhancing implant success. With the periodontist being uniquely trained to provide this service.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you have about your patients' periodontal needs, or about the specialty in general.
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