Periodontal Regenerative Therapy Specialist

What is periodontal regenerative therapy?

Periodontal regenerative therapy is a highly specialized area of dentistry that focuses on techniques used to stimulate the growth and development of new, healthy bone tissue in areas where the gums have receded and jaw bone tissue has begun to atrophy. The technique is primarily used in patients with severe gum disease were the supportive tissues have become too weak to support teeth adequately, significantly raising the risk of tooth loss.

What causes the loss of bone and gum tissue?

Gums recede when bacteria that cause gum disease colonize along the gum line and below it. As the bacteria grow, they release toxins that cause the tissue to shrink away from the tooth surface. As the gums continue to recede, they expose more of the tooth surface, enabling the bacteria to continue to move down the tooth toward the root. Often, infection occurs that causes inflammation and loss of the natural bone tissue. Eventually, the tooth can fall out.

How is periodontal regenerative therapy performed?

Periodontal tissue regeneration can be performed using different techniques, but one of the safest, most effective and most popular techniques involves the use of membranes or barriers. Different types of tissues grow at different rates, for instance, gum tissue grows more rapidly than bone tissue. When treating an area of the jaw where the bone has atrophied, a special membrane can be used to encourage bone tissue to form while “locking out” other types of tissue. This technique is also sometimes referred to as guided regeneration because the membrane or barrier guides or determines the tissue that is regenerated around the existing root and bone. During the procedure, the gum tissue is gently folded back, and the barrier is placed between the bone and the gum tissue. Then sutures are used to close the area and keep it protected. Some types of barriers used in tissue regeneration are absorbed by the body over time while others will need to be removed at a future appointment.