1. Recession Closure
A pathology in which the gum margin recedes, exposing the cervical part of the tooth roots, is called gum recession.
This condition requires mandatory treatment because, in addition to aesthetic issues, gum recession leads to increased tooth sensitivity, caries, the appearance of wedge-shaped defects, loosening, and even tooth loss!
Stages of Recession:
- Mild — recession of less than 3 mm;
- Moderate — between 3 and 5 mm;
- Severe — the gum margin has receded by more than 5 mm.
How is gum recession treated?
While conservative therapeutic methods may be used in the early stages, surgery is unavoidable in the third stage, when a significant part of the root is exposed — only plastic surgery can help here.
Complete restoration of the gum through medication therapy is impossible in the final stage; however, its use is justified when surgery is contraindicated for the patient. Therapy helps reduce the intensity of symptoms and eliminate inflammation.
Surgical closure of gum recession is performed via autogenous transplantation, where a tissue flap is transferred to the damaged area from another part of the oral cavity (most often from the hard palate).
2. Deepening of the Vestibule of the Mouth
A surgical procedure to widen or deepen the area of the attached gingiva by redistributing soft tissues is called vestibuloplasty.
The vestibule of the mouth is the soft tissue space located between the lips or cheeks and the teeth. Normally, its depth should be between 5 and 10 mm.
In cases of insufficient depth (less than 5 mm), the following are observed:
- Very small or complete absence of the mucosal attachment zone;
- Presence of a short frenulum;
- Gum inflammation and bleeding;
- Tension of the gum tissue, which can cause malocclusion and the development of recessions;
- Speech impairment and incomplete lip closure.
Indications for vestibuloplasty:
- Alleviating the patient’s condition in cases of severe periodontal damage;
- Necessity for better stabilization of dentures;
- Preparation before the installation of braces.
Tunnel vestibuloplasty is a minimally invasive method that provides access through small incisions, reducing surgical trauma and shortening the healing time.
3. Open Curettage
Curettage is the scraping of periodontal channels to remove decay products and dental tartar that cause infection.
Open curettage involves making an incision in the gum to gain access to deeper layers (over 5 mm). This is necessary in advanced stages of periodontitis when the closed cleaning method is no longer effective.
Stages of the procedure:
- Detaching the gum to create access to the root;
- Removing dental deposits and granulations using specialized instruments called curettes;
- Antiseptic treatment and polishing of the root surface;
- Bone tissue grafting in the treated areas to restore natural, healthy bone;
- Suturing the wound and applying a medicinal gum dressing for faster healing.
Important: Advanced periodontitis cannot be cured without surgical intervention. Elimination of the causes and long-term results are only possible after a full curettage of the periodontal pockets.
