Surgery
Enhanced Protection
Connective Tissue Graft
A connective tissue graft (gum graft) may be necessary if you experience gum recession, more commonly known as receding gums. These can be caused by:
- Gum disease
- Clenching and grinding your teeth
- Excessive brushing
- Tooth position
- An overly tight labial frenulum
- Oral piercing
This lack of gum tissue exposes and bares the root of your teeth, which aesthetically, makes the tooth appear longer. The root then becomes more susceptible to decay and more sensitive to cold.
The primary goal of the graft is to prevent the progression of gum recession by placing a band of healthy tissue over the root, strengthening and thickening the gum. This procedure reduces the exposed root surface, improving aesthetics and reducing sensitivity to cold.
This technique involves harvesting connective tissue from beneath the epithelium of the palate and grafting it onto the exposed root. Sutures hold the graft in place and close the palate wound.
Healing is rapid, with excellent long-term stability.
Services
Optimal Support
Bone Graft
Bone graft improves jawbone volume in preparation for the placement of one or more implants.
The roots of your teeth stimulate your jawbone helping to maintain adequate volume.
When one or more teeth are lost, the bone is no longer stimulated and resorbs, losing its thickness and height. This can cause:
- Premature facial aging
- Receding chin
- Sunken lips
- Reduced stability of dentures
Ideally, bone grafting is performed immediately after tooth extraction, thus avoiding a second surgery.
Once the tooth is removed, a synthetic bone graft is placed in the socket and covered with a membrane to maintain and protect it during healing. Stitches are used to close the wound and allow the graft to integrate with the jawbone to create new bone cells.
Once healing is complete, surgery to place the implant(s) can be scheduled.
Special Cases
Extractions
The dentist's number one priority is to consider solutions to preserve a patient's teeth. However, in certain situations, extraction may be suggested by the dentist. Here are some reasons that may lead to the extraction of one or more teeth.
Tooth Decay
Extensive decay may prevent conventional treatment of the tooth, necessitating extraction.
Periodontal Disease
Significant bone loss caused by periodontal disease may lead to the extraction of one or more teeth. This occurs when the tooth no longer has enough bone to fulfill its supporting functions.
Lack of Tooth Space
It may be necessary to extract one or more teeth to help correct a lack of space. This recommendation is most often made during orthodontic treatment.
What about wisdom teeth?
It is recommended to check the progression of wisdom teeth starting at the age of 15 or 16. This examination, using panoramic X-rays, allows for verification of the progression and probable orientation of the teeth. At this age, root formation is not complete, which makes extraction, if necessary, easier.
It is important to assess the growth of wisdom teeth. They are often a source of problems, such as infections and cysts. If a tooth grows toward the roots of the adjacent tooth, it can cause an abscess, damage the neighboring tooth, and even lead to its loss, all while remaining under the bone.
If a wisdom tooth manages to break through the gum but fails to fully erupt despite being properly positioned, it becomes problematic. Indeed, this type of tooth, called semi-impacted, remains partially hidden under the gum. This promotes the accumulation of food debris, which then promotes tooth decay and infection.
Treat your smile with the best treatment
The Stéphanie Wilson Dental Center at Saint-Sauveur takes care of you, with expertise and care.