Surgical Periodontal Treatment Pittsburgh Pa

Why would I need "gum surgery"?

Surgical treatment of periodontal disease is known as “osseous” or “flap” surgery. This treatment is recommended when plaque and calculus are too far under the gum line to be cleaned out non-surgically or if lost bone needs to be rebuilt.

Will it hurt?

Surgical periodontal treatment is done with local anesthesia to ensure the patient’s complete comfort. An oral sedative or IV sedation is also available to allow you to relax through the procedure. Patients are pleasantly surprised that any post-operative discomfort can most often be treated with Tylenol or Advil. Most patients return to work the next day.

What if I have "bone loss"?

During surgical treatment, we have the opportunity to assess the damage to bone. If there is a need, we can add materials that will help to regenerate lost bone. This can add years of life to a compromised tooth or even totally reverse the damage.

Biologic materials used during surgery to regenerate bone and tissue lost to periodontal disease could include one or more of the following:

Bone Grafting

Bone is commonly used in periodontal surgical procedures. The bone used for these procedures can be your own bone (autogenous), from a tissue bank (allograft), from animals (xenograft) or synthetic. For additional information, contact www.lifenet.org.

Barrier Membranes

Barrier membranes are also used when there is insufficient bone. The material’s task is to prevent the wrong tissues from interfering with healing, allowing bone to fill the space beneath the material. If the procedure is recommended for you, the benefits can be significant. A solid foundation of bone can help protect your investment in dental health and future restorative treatment. For additional information contact www.goremedical.com.

Emdogain

Emdogain Gel is a revolutionary product that stimulates your body to rebuild the natural attachment required to support your teeth. Emdogain Gel utilizes a protein to reestablish new tooth attachment previously lost due to moderate-to-severe periodontitis. For additional information contact www.biora.com.

APC+ (Autologus Platelet Concentrate)

APC+ is a method used by surgeons to help improve surgical outcomes. APC+ is made from a small sample of your own blood. The blood is spun down in a sophisticated, computerized centrifuge to concentrate your platelets. These concentrated platelets contain huge reservoirs of growth and wound healing factors. Clinical data has shown that growth and wound healing factors can dramatically enhance and accelerate your body’s normal healing process after surgery.

Perioscope

If periodontal surgery has been recommended, you may be a candidate for the Perioscope, a non-surgical alternative to periodontal surgery. Ask your dentist or hygienist about the Perioscope alternative.