SAN DIMAS PERIODONTICS

PERIODONTAL COSMETIC PROCEDURES:

	Crown Lengthening
	When getting a crown, the general dentist must prepare your tooth to receive the crown. Sometimes there is not enough tooth surface above the gumline to accomplish this. Crown lengthening provides more tooth for your crown. This ensures a more stable crown with less gum irritation afterwards. Also, if you have a "gummy" smile or uneven gum line, crown lengthening can help your teeth to look longer and more even. Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and gently removes excess gum and bone tissue to expose more of your natural teeth.

	Bone Grafting
	Your jaw bone is what supports your teeth and gums. Unfortunately, periodontal disease can eat away at your jaw bone and lead to tooth loss. In many cases, this lost bone can be partially grown back using various bone grafting techniques. Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and gently opens the area filling in the missing section with bone grafting material.

	Soft Tissue Grafting
	Longer teeth or exposed tooth roots can look unsightly. They can also increase your sensitivity to heat, cold or sweets. In some cases, gum tissue can placed in these areas. Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and gently places a gum tissue graft over the area.

	Antibiotic Treatment
	Some oral antibiotics can enhance the periodontal treatment. In certain isolated circmstances, placement of antibiotic chips or creams can reduce infection. Procedure: Oral Antibiotics, in cream or chip form, are precisely placed in isolated areas to improve healing. Afterwards the results are closely monitored during follow-up visits.

	Ridge Augmentation
	Sometimes after an extraction there will be a sunken in spot in your gum line. This looks unsightly and can jeopardize the appearance of a bridge which goes over this area. A soft tissue graft can be inserted to fill out this depression. Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and gently opens the area. He then fills the sunken area with a soft tissue graft.

	Each procedure is done with your comfort and safety in mind. We work closely with your general dentist to ensure you get the best possible result in accordance with your general dentist's wishes. Please feel free to ask questions before, during or after any one of these procedures.