Periodontal disease is extremely common in America. In fact, almost half of American adults suffer from some form of periodontitis or related conditions. If you are one of these adults, you should seek treatment as soon as you are able. Even with severe gum tissue or bone loss, periodontitis is treatable. Dr. Laurence Breiterman, a dentist, is very experienced in these procedures and can give you the treatment you need to fully restore your smile and oral health.
How Periodontitis Can Affect You
If you have been missing multiple teeth or suffered from periodontitis for a long time, you may very likely have suffered from a loss of bone density. This can be detrimental not only to your oral health, but also the structure and appearance of your face. It can also be very difficult or impossible to replace teeth, depending on the severity of bone loss. This is where bone grafting is an optimal treatment.
How Bone Grafting Works
The procedure for bone grafting involves gathering bone from a different part of the body—for periodontal disease, it’s usually the chin—and grafting it onto the affected area. In some cases, depending on the severity of damage, Dr. Breiterman has been known to use bone from a non-human source or a bone bank. Once the grafted bone is in place, it’s held in place with titanium screws to allow it time to attach naturally as the healing process takes place. Once the bone graft is complete, Dr. Breiterman will be able to assess whether soft tissue grafts are also necessary or if dental implants can be inserted right away.
Dr. Breiterman was awarded the Mastership Award from the Academy of General Dentistry in 2007 recognizing his commitment to advanced dental education. If you think you may need bone grafting, periodontal treatment, or other advanced dental work, you can rest assured that you are in good hands. Please, if you are in this situation, do not hesitate to call our office and schedule an appointment for bone grafting in Wayne, NJ.