Gum Regeneration Techniques: What’s New in Soft Tissue Reconstruction?

Gum disease is a serious issue for both your dental health and your overall health. Yet many people ignore their gum health until the problem has advanced to the stage where intervention is needed. 

At Periodontist of Weston, we provide comprehensive preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services for periodontal (gum) disease, including soft tissue regeneration. We’re here today to discuss some of the advancements in soft tissue regeneration and how they can enhance your gum health. 

Gum grafting remains an outstanding option

Once you’ve lost a substantial amount of gum tissue, grafting is usually the best way to replace that lost tissue and preserve your surrounding gums, teeth, and bone tissue. Gum grafting involves removing tissue from one area of your mouth and suturing it in place in the area where you’ve lost gum tissue. 

Often, the grafting material is harvested from the roof of your mouth. A small cut allows access to the tissue, and we remove a small amount from beneath the outer layer. Once we close the incision, the outermost layer of tissue remains intact, which helps speed healing from the donor site. 

Next, we suture the harvested tissue in place over your natural gum tissue in the area where additional soft tissue volume is desired. During recovery, this tissue bonds with your gums to create a better barrier between the environment in your mouth and your bloodstream. It also provides more support for your teeth. 

Pedicle grafting is a different technique that involves cutting into the healthy gum tissue near the treatment area and pulling that gum tissue over the area where additional tissue volume is needed. This option is only a good fit for people who have sufficient healthy gum tissue in the targeted area. 

Advancement in artificial membranes aids in tissue regeneration

One of the biggest advancements in gum tissue regeneration is the use of artificial membranes. These membranes can be coated with materials that reduce the risk of infection and speed the healing process. Membranes can also be effective in keeping medication in place on your gum tissue, where it can aid in healing. 

Membranes are also used in treating bone loss brought on by gum disease. Because these membranes don’t dissolve or otherwise break down, they create a barrier between your bone and gum tissue. 

Your gum tissue regenerates much more rapidly than bone tissue. By creating a separation between bone and gums, your bone tissue has the space needed to build up bulk without the gum tissue quickly filling in that space. 

Laser technology reduces the risk of infection

One additional advancement in periodontal treatment is the use of laser technology. Lasers can dramatically reduce the number of bacteria in the treatment area, without damaging your natural tooth or gum tissue. 

Fewer bacteria mean a reduced risk of infection. Laser therapy can also clear away every bit of plaque and tartar, giving your teeth and supporting bone a clean, healthy foundation. This creates an ideal surface for new gum tissue to reattach and heal properly.

Have more questions about gum disease treatment?

If you’re ready to explore your options for treating gum disease, we’re happy to sit down with you and go over the latest advancements in treatment technology. Just reach out to our office online or over the phone to find a time that works for you. 

At Periodontist of Weston, Dr. Segal and the rest of our team pride ourselves on offering the very latest treatments and technology. When it comes to gum health, we’re experts who enjoy helping those in our care achieve their goals and enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.