Miami Gum Grafting

Miami Gum Grafting Specialist Dr. William P. Lamas

Healthy teeth and gums require the implementation of an oral hygiene program that includes practicing proper brushing and flossing techniques on a daily basis, along with having dental checkups and professional cleanings at least twice a year. While these practices work well for most, there are some patients who follow these recommendations diligently, yet still develop periodontal disease (i.e., gum disease) and require treatment. Individuals who neglect to seek treatment right away may need to have a procedure known as gum grafting to address a receding gumline.

Dr. William P. Lamas frequently treats individuals who have developed gum disease and receding gums at his office in Miami. The procedures offered at Lamas Dental Specialists include those that address the disease itself as well as procedures specifically designed to restore the patient’s gum tissue, and teeth. At his office in Miami, Dr. Lamas performs gum grafting procedures for individuals who have a receding gumline due to periodontal disease and/or aggressive brushing habits.

Gum Grafting Procedures Are Used to Address Receding Gumlines at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami

A Healthy Mouth vs. a Mouth with Periodontal Disease

When the gums are strong and healthy, they fit around the neck of each tooth snugly. As you brush and floss, your gums will not bleed and when you touch them, they will feel firm. The most important steps you can take to maintain the health of your mouth in between your professional checkups and cleanings is to brush and floss every day.

You should brush twice a day, in two-minute intervals, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste that carries a Seal of Acceptance from the American Dental Association (ADA). In addition, remember to floss at least once a day. Keep in mind that if your gums start bleeding as you are brushing and/or flossing, you may have periodontal disease. Seeking treatment right away is vital because periodontal disease is the main reason that people lose teeth.

There Are Four Stages of Periodontal Disease

Gingivitis

As plaque and tartar (i.e., calculus) build up along the gumline, swelling begins. This inflammation causes the gum tissue to become tender. In addition, the gums may bleed a little as you brush and/or floss. If you seek treatment now, your gingival tissue and bone will remain healthy because at this early stage of the disease, these structures are not permanently damaged.

Once your gingivitis is treated, you can prevent a recurrence of the disease with proper daily oral hygiene practices as well as professional cleanings and dental exams at least twice a year.

Treating gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease:

If you have gingivitis, Dr. William P. Lamas will usually recommend that you have a professional cleaning performed to remove the buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth that is aggravating your gingival tissue. Once your cleaning is complete, Dr. Lamas will examine your teeth and gums to make sure there are no other problems that need to be addressed.

Without Treatment, Gingivitis May Progress to Mild Periodontitis

If you neglect to seek treatment, the plaque and tartar continue accumulating, which irritates the gingival tissue even more, causing heavier bleeding to occur as you floss and/or brush. In addition, you may notice ‘pockets’ forming along your gums. These pockets are the perfect place for the bacteria to live and multiply. These symptoms indicate that the disease has now progressed from gingivitis to mild periodontitis.

Once this stage of the disease develops, your gingival tissue and bone are under attack. Furthermore, other parts of your body can be negatively affected, here is how: Plaque and tartar consist mostly of bacteria, which can enter your bloodstream through the lacerations that are occurring in your gingival tissue as you brush and floss: Once these bacteria enter your bloodstream, they can cause damage to other parts of the body, including vital organs like your heart. While mild periodontitis is serious, if caught and treated early, Dr. Lamas can address the disease to prevent further damage.

Treating mild periodontitis, the second stage of periodontal disease:

Dr. William P. Lamas will probably recommend that you have a specialized deep cleaning process that is referred to as ‘scaling and root planing.’ This procedure is designed to remove the plaque and tartar deposits that have accumulated on the roots of the teeth (located just beneath the gumline) and the visible portions of the teeth. Once all the plaque and tartar are removed, the gum tissue can begin to heal. In addition, this procedure helps the pockets shrink. All the damage that has occurred during this stage of periodontal disease can be reversed.

Moderate Periodontitis

If mild periodontitis is allowed to progress to moderate periodontitis, irreversible damage to the support structures of the teeth is now occurring. The gingival tissue begins to separate from the teeth, exposing the roots, bone and supporting tissues beneath. Once exposed, these structures become vulnerable to the negative aspects of plaque and tartar buildup. At this stage, the color of the gingival tissue may be somewhat purple or a bright red. Also, pain may be present while chewing.

As the pockets that formed during the second stage of periodontal disease (mild periodontitis) deepen, plaque and food particles become trapped, providing the bacteria with an ideal environment for causing permanent damage. Although the damage caused by moderate periodontitis is irreversible, seeking treatment right away will prevent additional damage from occurring. Furthermore, once the periodontal disease is addressed, there are restoration procedures that Dr. William P. Lamas can perform at his office in Miami to improve the support structures of the teeth and eliminate the pain associated with gum disease. Dr. Lamas uses gum grafting treatments to address a receding gumline.

Treating moderate periodontitis at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami:

Just as with mild periodontitis, Dr. William P. Lamas will recommend scaling and root planing as the first step in treating this stage of the disease. If the pockets do not shrink after the scaling and root planing procedure, Dr. Lamas may recommend a gum grafting procedure.

Severe Periodontitis

Moderate periodontitis causes permanent damage to the support structures of the teeth. When treatment is not sought, the disease progresses to severe periodontitis, resulting in severe damage to the support tissues and bones of the individual’s teeth. Due to lack of a support structure, the teeth begin to become loose and/or shift, ultimately leading to tooth loss. Symptoms of this stage include chronic bad breath as well as an accumulation of pus between the teeth and gums.

With aggressive treatment, Dr. William P. Lamas has been able to save some of his patients’ teeth; nevertheless, each patient is unique and an initial consultation is the only way that Dr. Lamas can determine if he can save your teeth.

Gum Grafting Procedures Dr. William P. Lamas Performs in Miami

If your receding gumline is due to gum disease, a gum grafting procedure can be performed once the gum disease has been treated.

There are four gum grafting procedures that Dr. Lamas frequently uses to correct gingival recession at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami:

1. The Pedicle Gum Graft

– this procedure is ideal for patients with some healthy tissue remaining near the recessed area. Dr. Lamas creates a pedicle (i.e., flap) at the gumline. He gently pulls the tissue over the exposed roots and uses stitches to reattach it.

2. A Free Gingival Gum Graft

– Dr. William P. Lamas uses this procedure if a patient has very thin gingival tissue near the area being treated. Instead of creating a flap, he excises the tissue for the graft from the patient’s palate (i.e., roof of the mouth). He uses this tissue to create a longer gumline, using stitches to attach it to the area where the gums are receding and exposing the roots of the teeth.

Potential complications associated with the Pedicle Gum Graft and Free Gingival Gum Graft procedures include

– bleeding and discomfort at the area where the tissue for the graft was obtained. If the donor tissue used for the graft was taken from another area of the mouth, as opposed to being created using tissue directly next to the tooth/teeth that are being addressed, the color of the grafted tissue may not match the existing gum tissue; therefore, the gum graft will be visible.

3. The Connective-Tissue Gum Graft

– during this procedure, Dr. Lamas uses a product called AlloDerm® Regenerative Tissue Matrix as the grafting material; thus, eliminating the need to remove tissue from some other area of the patient’s mouth. After he removes any diseased tissue, Dr. William P. Lamas shapes the Alloderm® Graft Tissue to ensure it fits snugly and covers up all visible roots.

This innovative Alloderm® Graft Tissue usually remains in place for several months, during which time it stimulates the body’s cells to regenerate and replace the missing tissue. Early intervention is the key to attaining a successful AlloDerm® Regenerative Tissue Matrix result for gum recession.

4. The Pinhole Surgical Technique™ (PST™)

– while performing this incision-free procedure, Dr. Lamas uses specially-designed dental instruments to create a very small hole in the patient’s gum tissue, he then gently loosens it. Once the gingival tissue is loosened, he carefully moves it over the exposed roots. Dr. Lamas can treat up to 14 teeth per PST™ session. A single session usually lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.

Potential complications associated with the PST™

– without the use of incisions, stitches or anesthesia, potential complications associated with the Pinhole Surgical Technique™ are few, but may include: gum tenderness, swelling and/or infection.

Recovering from a Gum Grafting Procedure in Miami

Each patient receives a list of restrictions following his or her gum grafting procedure. Patients should expect to experience some tenderness following their gum grafting procedure. For this reason, Dr. Lamas may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Patients should not rub their tongues up against the treated areas or continuously pull on their lips to view the areas that were treated; otherwise, the healing process may be slowed and inflammation may increase.

Patients must avoid brushing or flossing until their gums have healed completely. Complete healing takes approximately 10 days. Instead of brushing and flossing during these initial 10 days, patients should use the mouthwash that Dr. William P. Lamas prescribed. This mouthwash is designed to help control plaque.

Following a diet that consists of soft foods for at least a week after a gum grafting procedure is recommended. Soft foods include eggs, mashed potatoes, pasta, yogurt, shakes, gelatin, applesauce, cottage cheese and pudding.

Who Should Seek Treatment for Gum Recession in Miami?

Anyone experiencing gum recession should seek treatment right away. Seeking treatment early on is vital to limiting the damage caused to the supporting structures of the teeth. With treatment, the destruction being caused by the bacteria can be stopped so the healing process can begin.

A Initial Consultation for Gingival Recession at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami

During your consultation, Dr. William P. Lamas will examine your mouth and order X-rays. Following your examination, Dr. Lamas will know if you have gum disease and/or gingival recession. If you currently have gum disease, he will want to treat that first and then he will address the gum recession with a gum grafting technique. The gum grafting method that Dr. William P. Lamas recommends will be the one that he believes will provide you with the best results possible.

Treatment Costs for Gum Grafting

Once the gums recede and the root is exposed, you may notice that your teeth are sensitive to cold and/or hot foods and beverages. Even just breathing in cold air may result in tooth pain. To determine the cost of treatment, Dr. William P. Lamas must examine you. Following your examination, he will be able to tell you which procedure he believes will provide you with optimal results, as well as the number of sessions he believes you will need.

Insurance Coverage for Gum Grafting Procedures

Dr. Lamas encourages his patients to check with their medical and dental insurance companies before they schedule their gum grafting procedures to see if they will cover a portion of the procedure.

If your gums are receding, seeking treatment right away could make the difference in whether you will be able to save your natural teeth or not. Dr. William P. Lamas offers initial consultations at his office in Miami to individuals in need of dental care. Contact his office today at 305-440-4114 to schedule your initial consultation.

Dr. William P. Lamas is proud to be a leading periodontist in South Florida and a top doctor on RealSelf. He maintains these prestigious titles by continually providing patients with compassionate care and excellent results.

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