At I love my dentist, our board certified specialists always recommend starting with the least invasive treatments, which are non-surgical; however, in some cases, depending on the severity of the problem, surgery may be necessary.

Debridement

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a long time and you need something to get back to a healthy foundation before returning to regular cleanings, you will probably need this treatment. This is not something that you will get regularly. Ideally, a debridement only happens one time, and it basically consists of the use of a special electronic tool with ultrasonic vibrations that break up calculus and remove plaque and food debris, so it can be removed and cleaned away. This shouldn’t take more than an hour.

Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

If you are in an early stage of the periodontal disease and want to take action before it becomes severe, this may be the treatment you are looking for. Scaling and root planing, better known as “deep cleaning” is a non-surgical procedure in which an ultrasonic device is used instead of a regular one to remove the plaque and tartar. Then, the rough surface of the tooth and the root are smoothened. This provides the conditions for the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth. The average duration of this procedure is not longer than an hour.

If your case is more severe, and the tissue or bone surrounding your teeth are too damaged, you may need one of the following surgical treatments:

Flap Surgery (pocket reduction)

Pockets are spaces or gaps between teeth and gum tissue caused by periodontal disease. Over time, these pockets become larger and deeper, providing more space for bacteria to thrive, leading to other severe conditions.

With this procedure known as flap surgery or pocket reduction, the gums are separated from the tooth to remove the bacteria, plaque and tartar hiding underneath; and then sutured back in place so that the tissue fits around the tooth again. This procedure should cure your gum disease if you maintain good dental care and hygiene after the surgery.

Soft tissue graft

Severe periodontal disease causes gingival recession, resulting in absence of gum tissue and exposed roots. Aggressive tooth brushing or even grinding teeth may also contribute to exposed roots. Soft tissue grafts are used to stop gum recession, cover roots and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line.

In this procedure gum tissue is taken from your palate or from another doner source and treated to eliminate the risk of disease transmission or graft rejection. Then it is secured over the exposed root and underneath the gum tissue. This added tissue reseals and protects the tooth and bone from further recession and bone loss. It also protects roots against decay and reduces tooth sensitivity.

Guided tissue regeneration

During this surgical procedure, a special membrane is placed between the hard and soft tissues, guiding the gum tissue away from filling the pocket and letting the bone grow naturally. This membrane is crucial because it blocks the faster migrating soft tissue cells from growing, while allowing the slower migrating bone-producing cells to populate and grow. This establishes a stable foundation for your tooth with adequate support from both bone and gum tissue.