Gum and Bone Grafting
in Indiana, PA
Dr. Crawford Can Restore Your Smile, Starting From the Bone and Gum Up
Gum and bone grafting in Indiana, PA, is available as a dental service of David L. Crawford, DMD. We offer this procedure to help improve the strength and integrity of your smile. It can be an important part of treating gum recession, bone loss, and restoring connective tissue.
Dr. Crawford is accepting new patients. So call to see if you are a candidate for gum and bone grafting in Indiana, PA. Call (724) 463-3368 to schedule an appointment today.
Gum Recession Can Lead to a Gum Graft
Gum recession is the process in which the tissue that surrounds the teeth pulls away from a tooth, exposing more of the tooth or the tooth’s root. This can cause damage to the supporting bone. Gum recession is a common dental problem affecting 4% to 12% of adults and often goes unnoticed until it becomes more severe. Eventually, gum recession, if not treated, can cause tooth loss. To repair the damage and prevent further dental problems you may need a gum tissue graft. If gum disease isn’t managed effectively, it can lead to further tooth loss and even heart disease.
Dr. Crawford Can Help Your Mouth Pain With a Gum Tissue Graft
Three different types of gum tissue grafts are typically performed. Which type we will do will depend on your specific needs. The graft procedures include:
Connective-tissue grafts:
This is the most common method used to treat root exposure. During the procedure, the doctor will remove subepithelial connective tissue from under a flap of skin on the roof of your mouth. He will then stitch it to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root.
Free gingival grafts:
Similar to a connective-tissue graft, free gingival grafts involve the use of tissue from the roof of the mouth. This method is most often used for people who have thin gums, to begin with, and need additional tissue.
Pedicle grafts:
Instead of taking tissue from the palate, Pedicle grafts take tissue from gum around or near the tooth needing repaired. The flap, called a pedicle, is only partially cut away so that one edge remains attached. The gum is then pulled over or down to cover the exposed root and sewn into place. This procedure is only used in people who have plenty of gum tissue near the tooth.
To Help Prevent Gum Disease and Prevent Gum Receding Include:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Floss daily
- Rinse once or twice a day with an antiseptic mouthwash
- Visit your dentist routinely for checkups and professional teeth cleaning
- Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet
- Do not smoke
Start Your Mouth Make Over With a Needed Bone Graft
A dental bone graft adds volume and density to your jaw in areas where bone loss has occurred. The bone graft material comes from your own body, a human tissue bank, an animal tissue bank, or synthetically made. Once the bone graft holds space for your own body to do the repair work. In other words, a dental bone graft is like a scaffold on which your own bone tissue can grow and regenerate. Bone grafting is also necessary to provide a strong enough base for an implant.
When is a Bone Graft Needed?
A person with bone loss in their jaw usually needs a dental bone graft. Doctors recommend this procedure if:
- Are having a tooth extracted
- Plan to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant
- Need to rebuild the jaw before getting dentures
- Have areas of bone loss due to gum (periodontal) disease
- Natural bone loss from development defects, gum disease, face injury or trauma
Contact David L Crawford, DMD, to improve the integrity of your smile with gum and bone grafting in Indiana, PA.