What other treatments do periodontists perform?

• Crown elongation or crown lengthening Crown lengthening procedures are performed either to improve the esthetics of your gum line or to adjust the gum and bone levels to expose more tooth structure so that a restoration can be completed. In the example to the right (figure 1) the patients chief complaints are that her teeth are too short and her smile is too "gummy". Figure 2 is the improved result after crown lengthening.

• Gum grafts or Gingival grafts Gingival graft procedures are performed most often when gum recession has occurred on one or more tooth roots. Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons. Once these contributing factors are controlled, a gingival graft procedure will repair the exposed tooth root and help prevent additional recession. (figure 3 and 4)

• Cosmetic surgeries Cosmetic periodontal procedures are performed in specific regions to enhance and improve your smile. Excessive gum can be trimmed away or thickened as needed. These procedures are performed to improve the esthetics of your natural teeth or in combination with crowns or veneers that your general dentist fabricates. In the examples shown at figures 5 and 6, cosmetic periodontal surgery was accomplished in combination with porcelain crowns and veneers to achieve the improved esthetic result.

• Bone regeneration

Periodontal disease destroys not only the gum tissue but also the bone supporting the teeth. Bone regeneration procedures are performed to reverse some of the damage caused by periodontitis. Bone regeneration therapy utilizes membranes, bone grafts or tissue stimulating proteins to encourage your body's natural ability to regenerate the lost bone support.

• Other treatments that we perform:

• Teeth removal
• Root resections
• Bite adjustments
• Night guard fabrication
• TMJ evaluation
• Teeth cleaning (prophylaxis)
• Frenectomies
• Supracrestal Circumferential Fiberotomies