Aesthetic Periodontal Treatment Options

If a tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line or too short, it may not be possible to affix a crown or bridge to restore it. In this case, dental crown lengthening can adjust the gum and bone level, making restoration possible. This procedure can transform one tooth or even a full set, and is a great aesthetic solution for patients who feel their smile is too ‘gummy’, or their gums are uneven.

Periodontal disease damages your gums, leading to ‘pockets’ forming around your teeth. Bacteria can live in these pockets, causing more bone and tissue loss. Without treatment, your gums will be irreparably damaged and affected teeth will need to be removed. We can avoid this with a minor procedure to take the harmful bacteria out of these pockets. We fold back the gum tissue, remove the bacteria, and secure the gum tissue back in place. We also smooth any irregular surfaces of the damaged bone to limit the areas where bacteria can live, making it easier for your gums to reattach to healthy bone.

Periodontal disease can cause your gums to recede, exposing the roots of your teeth. Roots are meant to remain below your gum line, and when they are exposed they can be very sensitive and susceptible to decay. Exposed roots can also make your teeth appear longer and have an ageing effect on your appearance. Gum graft surgery involves taking gum tissue from another part of your mouth – usually your palate – and using it to cover the exposed root. This can protect the root from decay, lower sensitivity, reduce further recession and bone loss – and make your smile appear more youthful.

When you lose a tooth, your jawbone no longer needs to support it and will naturally begin to recede. This can lead to a gum indentation developing where the tooth used to be. This makes a replacement tooth seem unnatural and too long. Ridge augmentation is a simple procedure to re-establish your natural gum line and make a replacement tooth look completely natural.