Guided Tissue Regeneration: An Advanced Method to Combat Gum Disease
Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontitis, can wreak havoc on your smile. When left untreated, it can even cause gum recession and tooth loss. To help reverse the serious effects of gum disease, the doctors at Ridgewood Dental Associates offer an advanced surgical procedure known as guided tissue regeneration, or GTR This treatment allows patients with gum disease to restore the look and health of their smiles in a single surgery at our Ridgewood, NJ, dental office. After the recovery period, you can expect to enjoy improved strength and stability in your smile.
Gum Disease and Tissue Loss
Untreated gum disease can create deep gum pockets around your teeth, leaving your roots exposed to bacteria and decay. This bacteria also becomes trapped underneath the gums, where it starts to break down both hard and soft tissues. Without timely periodontal treatment, this can lead to gum recession, tooth loss, and bone loss.
Although early stages of gum disease can be treated with interventional therapies such as scaling and root planing, advanced gum disease may require surgical treatment. A professional dental care provider can administer treatment that improves both the health and aesthetics of your smile.
What Is Guided Tissue Regeneration?
At Ridgewood Dental Associates, we use guided tissue regeneration to help promote tissue growth following serious gum disease. During this surgical procedure, we will first remove disease-causing bacteria and then place a biological product between the bone and gums. Because soft tissue regenerates much faster than bone tissue, this prevents the soft tissue from growing into the tooth's space and allows the tooth sufficient room to rebuild itself.
Guided tissue regeneration offers an advanced method to reverse the damaging effects of gum disease.
Our doctors use advanced materials, such as Emdogainä or Straumann® Emdogain®, to heal and strengthen the treatment site.
The Treatment Process
Guided tissue regeneration consists of several steps:
- We will begin by numbing the treatment area with local anesthesia.
- If you have dental phobia, feel anxious or stressed, or are undergoing a particularly complex procedure, we also offer nitrous oxide and intravenous (IV) sedation.
- One of our doctors will carefully create an incision in the soft tissue to remove all bacteria underneath the gum line.
- The doctor will then place an artificial membrane between your gum and the tooth.
New bone and soft tissue should regenerate over the next six months, during which time you may be required to visit our office for follow-up appointments.
The Benefits of This Procedure
Guided tissue regeneration can improve both the comfort and integrity of your smile. For patients who previously had exposed tooth roots due to gum recession, this procedure can help reduce sensitivity or discomfort. By restoring lost gum tissue, this procedure can restore symmetry and balance between your gums and teeth. By strengthening the supportive tissue surrounding your teeth, guided tissue regeneration can also help to preserve a healthy smile for many years to come.
Learn More Today
If gum disease has taken a toll on your smile, there is hope. Schedule a consultation at Ridgewood Dental Associates by calling us at (201) 652-2474 or requesting an appointment online.
