Gingivectomies and Ridge Surgery

Effective Treatment for Severe Gum Disease

When severe gum disease doesn't respond to scaling and planing or other periodontal treatments, a gingivectomy may be required. During a gingivectomy, our doctor removes and reshapes loose and diseased gum tissue. This reduces the size of the pockets between your teeth and gums in which bacteria can thrive.

North Mississippi Periodontics and Implant Dentistry has over 30 years of experience in treating all stages of gum disease. We'll begin with more conservative approaches, but if the need arises, you can rely on us for a gingivectomy. If you suffer from gum disease, call us today to book your appointment.

Outline of a Gingivectomy Procedure

A gingivectomy is a form of surgery, and Dr. Robertson will do everything you'd expect in any other surgical procedure. The area to be treated will be numbed with a local anesthetic, and he'll make small incisions to remove the damaged or diseased tissue. We use state-of-the-art medical equipment in our practice, and a laser may be the best tool for your treatment. A laser reduces any pain, bleeding, and discomfort.

When the procedure is complete, we'll provide you with home care instructions. In general, you should do the following:

• Only eat soft foods and drink cool or slightly warm liquids.
• Keep your mouth clean, but do not brush or floss the areas included in the procedure.
• After a few weeks, you'll be able to return to normal brushing and flossing.

Ridge Augmentation and Preservation

After a tooth is removed, the jawbone is prone to deterioration if the tooth is not replaced with a dental implant. This can lead to an indentation in the gums or jawbone, and that indentation can be difficult to clean or cosmetically unpleasing.

In our practice, we perform ridge augmentations and preservations that restore the natural shape of your tooth socket and the surrounding tissues. Dr. Robertson puts new bone material in place through a graft and restores the gum tissue in the area. Depending on whether Dr. Robertson requires gum tissue or bone, he'll perform a soft tissue graft (gum tissue alone) or a hard tissue graft (with bone).

These procedures create a more natural appearance in your mouth, and they can repair or prevent jawbone deterioration. They're often used to prepare an area for a dental implant. Ridge preservation and augmentation are surgical procedures, and we'll provide you with complete instructions about cleaning and care at the time of your procedure. For more information, please call North Mississippi Periodontics and Implant Dentistry today.