The impact of gum disease goes beyond bleeding gums. As the disease continues to advance, bacteria start to damage the bone that serves to hold your teeth in place.
As bone is lost, periodontal pockets can deepen and, in some cases, vertical defects can develop in the bone surrounding the teeth. This can lead to loose teeth or even complete tooth loss. Regular deep cleaning prevents active infection but does not restore the bone that is already lost.
This scenario is where guided tissue regeneration becomes a useful procedure. Guided tissue regeneration uses a biocompatible membrane, sometimes together with bone grafting materials, to exclude unwanted soft-tissue growth and create an environment that supports regeneration of bone and other periodontal tissues.
Not everyone with gum disease needs guided tissue regeneration. A periodontal evaluation can help determine whether the procedure may be appropriate.
Patients with Vertical Bone Loss
Periodontitis damages the jawbone in two main ways: horizontal loss and vertical loss. Horizontal loss lowers the overall height of your bone evenly across several teeth. Vertical loss creates narrow, deep holes right alongside individual roots.
These deep vertical pockets harbor dangerous bacteria that toothbrushes cannot reach. Guided tissue regeneration works exceptionally well inside these narrow, three-walled vertical defects.
The surrounding natural bone walls support the graft material and barrier membrane, creating a safe space for fresh bone matrix to form.
Teeth with Exposed Root Junctions
Multi-rooted back teeth, like molars, have a specialized area called a furcation where the roots split apart. When deep gum disease eats away the bone between these roots, dentists call it a furcation defect.
Trapped food particles and plaque gather rapidly in these root splits. Without immediate treatment, furcation defects accelerate tooth loss. Dentists often conduct guided tissue regeneration for moderate furcation pockets.
A membrane can help maintain space and limit unwanted soft-tissue growth, creating conditions that may support regeneration of bone and periodontal attachment around the affected tooth.
Individuals Preparing for Dental Implants
When gum disease causes tooth loss, it often takes a large portion of the surrounding jawbone with it. Titanium dental implants require dense, full-volume jawbone to anchor firmly and support everyday chewing forces.
Patients who lack sufficient natural bone height or width cannot support an implant safely. This is where the guided tissue regeneration technique solves the problem. This method helps develop a solid bone at the site of extraction, creating a strong foundation for tooth implants.
Ideal Candidate for the Procedure
The success of guided tissue regeneration depends partly on the body’s ability to heal, making appropriate patient selection important.
Barrier membranes are applied after the dentist performs periodontal scaling and root planing, which aims to clear out existing infections at the site. Successful healing also depends on adequate blood flow and good oral hygiene.
The patient must avoid tobacco or smoking because nicotine reduces blood flow to oral tissues, which decreases bone production by half and doubles the risk of failure. In addition, it is important that the patient take care of their dental hygiene at home because plaque buildup on the surgical site hampers bone production.
Lastly, it is important to consider the patient’s overall health. Stable glucose levels mean that the patient’s body will be able to produce a bone matrix properly.
Protecting Your Natural Smile
Periodontal loss does not mean you have to lose your natural teeth. Guided tissue regeneration gives your body a second chance to repair deep structural damage caused by severe infections.
The team at Pinetree Dental offers comprehensive periodontal care and guided tissue regeneration. If you notice loose teeth or deep pockets during your routine checkups, schedule an evaluation by calling us at (512) 690-4131.