Periodontal Disease
Regenerative Therapy
This surgical procedure "regenerates" the previously lost gum and bone tissue. Most techniques utilize barriers or membranes, which are inserted over the bone defects. Some of these membranes are bio-absorbable(dissolve over time) and some require removal. Other regenerative procedures involve the use of bioactive gels.
Scroll down to view before and after X-rays of case study images
The Biological Principle: Guided Tissue Regeneration
The biological principle of Guided Tissue Regeneration describes a race among four tissue typed during healing:
- Epithelium (outer gum tissue drawn in red)
- Connective tissue (under the epithelium drawn in pink)
- Bone that surrounds the tooth (yellow)
- Periodontal ligament (connects the gum and the bone to the root-thin black lines)
These four tissues compete for the space next to the tooth root following surgery. Without interference, epithelium usually wins the race and stops the bone healing.
Some regenerative materials are designed to act as barriers to block the gum tissue. They are placed in order to isolate the space next to the root, so that the epithelium and connective tissue are kept away, thus allowing the slower growing ligament and bone cells to fill the space. Today, bio-active gels can be used in combination with membranes to help stimulate the re-growth of bone that has been lost to gum disease.
Guided tissue regeneration represents an enhancement to conventional therapy. Teeth can sometimes be saved that would otherwise be lost. Dr. Silberg was the first dentist in the area in 1987 to complete the original training given by the W. L. Gore Company prior to the release of the Gortex regenerative material. Since 1987 he has done well over a thousand regenerative procedures using these barrier techniques.