Procedure: Soft Tissue Graft
Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including aggressive tooth brushing or periodontal disease. You may not be in control of what caused the recession, but prior to treatment, Dr. Mark Mangelson can help you identify the factors contributing to the problem. Once these contributing factors are controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure can repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss. We invite you to learn more below or you can contact Salt Lake Implants & Periodontics at 801-266-3519 to visit with Dr. Mark Mangelson! Dr. Mangelson can see you for an appointment to discuss a gum graft in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Soft tissue grafts can be used to cover roots or replace gum tissue lost to excessive gingival recession. During this procedure, Dr. Mangelson will carefully select gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.
What are the benefits of this procedure? A soft tissue graft can reduce further recession and bone loss. Root surfaces are more vulnerable to decay. Soft tissue grafting can cover exposed roots to protect them from decaying. It also helps to reduce tooth sensitivity and improve the aesthetics of your smile.
Sometimes when you lose one or more teeth, you can get an indentation in the area where the tooth used to be. This happens because the bone naturally recedes when it is no longer supporting a tooth. In that case, Dr. Mangelson may suggest a ridge augmentation. For this solution, a gum graft is used in conjunction with the soft tissue graft so that there is more bone support for the restorative replacement. This also gives the patient an optimal aesthetic result.
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During this surgical procedure, excess gum tissue and bone is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth to even your gum line, or to several teeth to expose a natural amount of your tooth surface. Your dentist may refer you to Dr. [doctor_name] for crown lengthening to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure more effective.
Perhaps your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line or has insufficient tooth structure for a restoration, such as a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored.
What are the benefits of this procedure? Whether you have crown lengthening to improve function or aesthetics, you often receive the benefits of both. A beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health are your keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.
The muscles of the cheeks and lips are attached to the gums and tissue of the mouth by a piece of soft tissue called a frenum. Sometimes a frenum can be attached too high on the gums, causing either recession or spaces between teeth.
In addition, there is another frenum under the tongue. If this frenum is attached too close to the end of the tongue, it can adversely affect swallowing and speech. Sometimes this is referred to as being “tongue-tied.”
A frenectomy is a simple procedure where Dr. [doctor_name] releases either part or all of the frenum in question so that those strong muscles no longer pull on the healthy gingival tissue and cause recession or problems with speech.
A gingivectomy is a periodontal procedure that includes the removal of gingival or gum tissue to achieve a more aesthetic appearance and/or functional contour. Having healthy gums is an important part of a beautiful smile.
Sometimes gums extend onto the front surface of the teeth and the natural balance between length of the teeth and height of the gums is lost. There are several different reasons for this overgrowth, including medication, increased hormone levels, orthodontics, poor oral hygiene and sometimes even stress.
Dr. Mangelson performs a gingivectomy under a local anesthetic taking careful consideration of the aesthetic outcome. You may be referred to our office by your orthodontist following your treatment to further enhance your smile. Your general dentist may also refer you for a gingivectomy if your periodontal pockets cannot be controlled with scaling and root planing or with antibiotics.
A gingivectomy is a safe and predictable way of removing excess gum tissue and improving the natural appearance and health of your smile. After a gingivectomy is performed, there is minimal discomfort and the healing is rapid.