Periodontic dentistry deals with diseases of the gum and jawbone. This is currently one of the busiest fields in dentistry with the rise in gum diseases. Periodontal infections which cannot be fixed by standard therapy may need surgery.
Since your gums affect the way you look, dentists in Meridian recommend periodontal surgical procedures. Even healthy gum tissue after all at times affects your smile. Here are some of the periodontal surgical procedures that might improve your smile:
1. Crown Lengthening
Dentists can correct gums using a crown lengthening procedure. This procedure removes excess gum tissue to expose more area of your teeth. Apart from its aesthetic benefit, the procedure allows you to brush and floss to avert tooth decay and periodontal diseases. A crown-lengthening procedure takes about 1 hour. After a week or two, the dentist will ask you to return to remove the sutures.
2. Ridge Augmentation
This periodontal surgical procedure corrects uneven gum margins left by lost teeth. The jagged margins occur due to collapse of your jawbone after the loss of your tooth. Ridge augmentation increases your gum tissue to make your teeth appear more natural and attractive. Cosmetic procedures such as bone grafting after tooth loss can prevent you from having uneven gum margins.
3. Soft Tissue Grafting
In this surgery, dentists harvest a healthy layer of gum tissue from one location and placed on the site of gum recession. Soft tissue grafting improves the appearance of your smile and protects your tooth roots from unwanted exposure. Soft tissue grafting procedures have a success rate of over 90%.
Pain from periodontal surgery procedures is minimal and mild pain medication can help control it. You can use ice packs to relieve moderate swelling after periodontal surgical procedures. Make sure you get a qualified periodontist to avoid post-surgical complications.