Bone & Gum Regeneration in Arlington, TX
Whether due to injury, infection, or tooth loss, a patient can lose some of the gum and bone tissue that supports their teeth, making their smile much more vulnerable to future problems. However, Dr. Doctor can help build this important tissue back up with gum and bone regeneration techniques, leading to healthier and stronger areas for implant placement. The procedures outlined below are also often necessary before a patient can get dental implants to replace their missing teeth.
Tissue and Bone Regeneration
As bone and gum disease becomes more advanced, it starts to break down the soft and hard tissues of the mouth, exposing the sensitive tooth roots to infection and dramatically increasing the risk of tooth loss. Dr. Doctor can correct both issues using advanced tissue and bone gum grafting procedures. A special membrane can be applied to the gums to encourage the growth of new healthy tissue, and the jawbone can be built up using a bone graft (more on this below: Ridge Preservation). This can solve many issues when it comes to the look and function of a patient’s teeth, plus it can make someone a viable candidate to get dental implants.
Guided tissue regeneration & guided bone regeneration
These procedures aim to renew lost periodontal tissue, bone, periodontal ligaments, and connective tissues that support the teeth. They accomplish this via biocompatible membranes, bone grafts, and/or special proteins that stimulate tissue growth. While these procedures are appropriate in a variety of circumstances, they are especially common before or along with the placement of dental implants. Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is a surgical procedure that utilizes bone grafts with barrier membranes to reconstruct small defects around dental implants or other deficient areas of the jawbone. Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) is a procedure in which tissue membranes are used to aid in regrowing gum tissues. Guided tissue regeneration is generally necessary if periodontitis or other dental problems have led to significant loss of gum tissues.
About the Procedure
The treatment is relatively simple. A biocompatible membrane is put down between the gum tissue and bone. It acts as a barrier that prevents tissue growth from limiting the growth of the underlying bone as it recovers. Some membranes that are placed around the deficient area dissolve on their own over several weeks, and others, such as those used to restore bony ridges in the jaw (Cytoplast), are not absorbable and must be removed.
What is a Cytoplast Membrane?
Cytoplast is a Non‐Resorbable Barrier Membrane that is designed to reduce the migration of gingival soft tissue-derived cells into bony defects, thus providing a more favorable environment for new blood cells and bone-derived cells to repopulate and repair the defect.
Single Tooth Atrophy (Block Graft)
Cytoplast Mem and Ridge Preservation – for Implant
Other types of tissue grafting procedures:
- Connective Tissue Graft
- Free Gingival Graft
- Pedicle Graft
What is a Connective Tissue Graft?
A connective tissue graft (often called CTG) is a gum grafting technique used when there is gum recession (exposed root surfaces), thin gums, or esthetic concerns related to dark-colored roots. The connective tissue graft is usually taken from the tissue behind the upper teeth on the roof of the mouth and can be used alone or with other regenerative biological membranes such as PRF (platelet-rich fibrin).
What is a Free Gingival Graft?
A free Gingival Graft Procedure (also known as FGG) helps reconstruct a sufficiently robust band of gum (keratinized) tissue to restore the support lost effectively. A free gingival graft involves taking tissue from the external layer of the gums on the palate and transplanting it to areas where it is lacking.
What is a Pedicle Graft?
The pedicle graft technique uses a section of tissue from an adjacent area, keeping one corner attached, while the larger portion is moved to cover the area needing treatment. This method eliminates the requirement for a second surgical site and maintains the tissue’s original blood supply, as its base remains connected to the source area.
Ridge Preservation
Ridge preservation procedures preserve the bone and gum tissue surrounding a tooth after it has been extracted. This can largely prevent bone loss that usually develops after a tooth has been removed or lost. Typically, ridge preservation is performed simultaneously as an extraction so the patient can replace their tooth as quickly as possible.
Bone Grafting
After tooth loss, the jawbone naturally starts to shrink and weaken. This can make the remaining teeth to shift out of place, create cosmetic defects in the smile, and make it impossible to replace the teeth with dental implants. Thankfully, a bone graft can fix all of this! Using a patient’s own bone (Autogenous- see more info below), donated bone, or a lab-made material, Dr. Doctor can build up and thicken the jawbone where a patient needs it to achieve a stable and attractive smile. This is often an initial step before a patient receives dental implants.
What is an Autogenous Bone Graft?
Using your own bone is called an autogenous bone graft. This means that during the surgery, our dentist near you would make an incision and take a small piece of bone from a donor area of the mouth (usually from your lower jaw – wisdom teeth area) to supply the deficient area.
Sinus Lift
For patients looking to replace their upper back teeth, a sinus lift can be used to thicken the jawbone in the area so it’s able to provide adequate support for dental implants. This procedure also helps prevent the implant roots from accidentally piercing the sensitive sinus membrane located right above the bone. It gets its name because the sinus membrane is gently lifted to create room for a bone grafting material to be placed, leading to the creation of new, strong bone that will hold onto the implant roots.
Many patients interested in getting dental implants to replace the missing back teeth in their upper jaw will first need to have a sinus lift. Fortunately, Dr. Doctor can provide all phases of implant care himself, so if it turns out that you do need a sinus lift in Arlington, you won’t have to visit a different specialist. You can trust it will be performed using the latest techniques and most advanced technology, just like the rest of your care.
Sinus lift atrophy
When a tooth is removed, if no implant or grafting is placed immediately, the ridge will experience disuse atrophy. Slow sinus expansion can cause atrophy in the top posterior area, and in the most severe situations, the bone separating the sinus and oral cavity can become paper-thin, thus preventing the possibility of restoring the missing tooth with a dental implant.
What is a sinus lift?
A sinus lift is a specific kind of bone graft that is used to strengthen and thicken the back of the upper jaw to prepare it for dental implant placement. After the teeth in this area go missing, the bone naturally shrinks and atrophies. If the bone is too thin, it might not adequately support implants, and the implants are in danger of going through the bone and piercing the sensitive sinus membrane right above it, which isn’t pleasant! Thankfully, a sinus lift can help patients avoid these potential problems to get new teeth that are strong, comfortable, and sure to last.
Dr. Doctor can perform a sinus lift in multiple ways, and the method he chooses will be based on your individual needs and jawbone density. Here are a few examples:
Direct approach / Lateral Window Sinus Lift
- Lateral Sinus Lift: A small window is built on the side of the jawbone using ultrasonic micro-vibrations that cut bone – and nothing else. No soft tissue is damaged, which allows precision that facilitates the surgery and reduces postoperative discomfort for patients simultaneously. This allows Dr. Doctor to gently lift the sinus membrane. He then places bone grafting material into the newly made space to accommodate future implant roots within the bone. This will eventually become new, healthy tissue-supporting dental implants.
Indirect approach / Vertical Sinus Lift:
- Sinus Lift w/ Internal Bump Condensation: This method creates space within the jawbone for implants without removing bone. The bone is compacted, making it denser and stronger to provide a firm foundation for implants using special drills called – VERSAH.
Benefits of a sinus lift
The biggest benefit of a sinus lift is that it allows a patient who typically wouldn’t be a good candidate for dental implants in the upper back jawbone area to gain access to this state-of-the-art treatment. In the past, patients with thin or brittle jawbones due to longstanding tooth loss had to settle for traditional bridges or dentures, but now, with procedures like the sinus lift, they can get the most complete and long-lasting replacement available today.
Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF)
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are advanced techniques used in dental surgery to improve healing and promote tissue regeneration. PRP and PRF are created by first obtaining a small blood sample from the patient. This sample is then subjected to centrifugation, a process that segregates the platelets and growth factors, isolating them from other blood cells. These platelets and growth factors are then concentrated and applied to the surgical site during the procedure.
The purpose of using PRP and PRF in dental surgery is to improve healing, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote tissue regeneration. PRP and PRF are especially beneficial in dental procedures like implant placement, bone grafting, and surgeries addressing periodontal issues. They can also be used to treat oral ulcers and other soft tissue injuries.
One of the main advantages of using PRP and PRF is that they are derived from the patient’s own blood, making them a safe and natural treatment option with little risk of allergic reactions or infections. PRP and PRF also have a high concentration of growth factors that can accelerate the healing process and lower the risk of complications such as infection and implant failure. Overall, using PRP and PRF in dental surgery can lead to faster healing, improved outcomes, and a more positive patient experience.
Contact our dental clinic in Arlington to schedule your consultation with Dr. Doctor, your top local dentist in Arlington.