Cosmetic Periodontal Procedures

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If you are unhappy with the appearance of short, unsightly teeth, receding gums, dark or discolored gums, your smile can be restored or greatly improved by a combination of periodontal procedures by Drs. Markle or Herman and other cosmetic dentistry services, like teeth whitening, by your general dentist. Periodontal cosmetic procedures available at Baton Rouge Perio:

• Crown Lengthening
• Gum Grafting
• Bone Grafting
• Pinhole Surgical Technique
• Gum Whitening

Crown Lengthening

Although your teeth appear short, they may actually be the proper length. The teeth may be covered with too much gum tissue. We can correct this by performing the periodontal plastic surgery procedure, crown lengthening. During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue are reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to more than one tooth, to even your gum line, and to create a beautiful smile.

Gum Grafting

Another cosmetic procedure is the soft tissue graft. It is used to cover unattractive tooth roots, reduce gum recession, and protect the roots from decay and eventual loss.

Bone Grafting

Tooth loss causes the jaw bone to recede and can lead to an unnatural-looking indentation in your gums and jaw, and the appearance of a general aging. The original look of your mouth may not be recaptured because of spaces remaining under and between replacement teeth. They may appear too long compared to nearby teeth.

Bone grafting following tooth loss can preserve the socket/ridge and minimize gum and bone collapse. There is less shrinkage and a more aesthetic tooth replacement for either an implant crown or a fixed bridge around the replacement teeth.

Pinhole Surgical Technique

Unlike gum grafting, The Pinhole Surgical Technique PST™ is minimally invasive and does not cut gum tissue, making it a much less painful option. Gum recession was traditionally treated using a connective tissue graft, which “harvests” gum tissue from the roof of the mouth and then sutures it to the affected area. Connective tissue grafts have a recovery period of up to three weeks and patients often experience side effects including gum pain, swelling, and bleeding.

Benefits of PST™

• Non-invasive
• Reduces the side effects of gum surgery (bleeding, swelling, gum pain)
• Near-immediate cosmetic improvement
• Incision and suture-free
• Accelerated recovery
• One visit can treat multiple areas of recession

Gum Whitening

Laser gum whitening, or gum bleaching, is currently the state-of-the-art procedure for making dark gums appear pinker. We direct a specialized dental laser to areas of concern. The emitted light frequency breaks down melanin particles in the tissue, allowing the body to clear them away in the weeks after treatment. Patients will notice that their smiles look brighter and fresher within a few days.

For more information about cosmetic gum treatments, please contact us for a consultation. We will be happy to discuss the details of which procedures may be right for you.