When is a transplant indicated?
Gum recession exposes the root of the tooth: it reacts to cold, is more quickly affected by caries and looks longer than the neighboring teeth. If there is not enough thin gum to close the defect, a free graft is taken - a piece of mucous membrane from the palate - and fixed in the recession area. The donor area heals under a protective tray in 2–3 weeks. The method allows not only to close the root, but also to create dense gums that are resistant to further loss.
Why periodontitis needs to be treated
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the tissues that support the tooth. It begins with bleeding gums and ends with loss of bone tissue, exposed roots and mobility of teeth. It is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults—more common than tooth decay.
Bone tissue that has already been lost does not regenerate on its own. Therefore, the goal of treatment is to stop the process and preserve what is there, and, if possible, restore the lost volume surgically.
What does treatment consist of?
- professional hygiene - removal of plaque and tartar above and below the gums
- closed curettage - cleaning pockets without an incision at a shallow depth
- open curettage and flap operations - for deep pockets
- plastic surgery of soft tissues – for gum recession and short frenulums
- splinting - stabilization of mobile teeth
- maintenance therapy - control every 3-6 months
What depends on the patient
No operation will produce results without daily hygiene. A brush, dental floss or brushes and an irrigator are a mandatory minimum. Smoking significantly worsens the prognosis: in smokers, inflammation is more secretive, and healing after interventions is slower.