Periodontal Disease is a leading cause of adult tooth loss. Calculus (tartar), plaque (bacterial colonies) and toxins accumulate around and under the gum. Your immune system recognizes these foreign invaders and reacts to them cause red, easily bleeding gums, loss of gingival attachment to tooth structure, and eventual bone loss around the teeth. Initial treatment for periodontal disease is root planning (deep cleaning). In order to do a thorough job, the area is often anesthetized for patient comfort.
When gum tissue has receded to the point that there is minimal attached gingiva connected around the tooth, an autogenous graft, (tissue coming from the patient themselves), can be done to “put back” some of the tissue that has been lost.
This has both functional and cosmetic implications.
Gingival re-contouring and shaping can be recommended to give your smile symmetry. Gingival and tooth symmetry is important when creating that cosmetic beautiful smile.
