Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry

Guided Tissue Regeneration

When you are missing teeth, your mouth begins to change. There are no longer tooth roots anchored into your jawbone, delivering constant pressure stimulation as you bite and chew, so the jawbone naturally begins to atrophy, or resorb. This process starts immediately and quickly, causing some people to lose as much as 25% of the jawbone ridge width in that specific spot within just the first year of losing a tooth. This jawbone atrophy over time changes your face shape and compromises the ability of the jawbone to successfully support a dental implant, which is why guided tissue regeneration is crucial.

The objective of guided tissue regeneration is to promote and encourage the jawbone to regain integrity so that it can provide a stable, staunch support foundation for dental implant restoration. Guided tissue regeneration has been studied and applied for decades, with modern innovative technologies making the process more efficient and more comfortable than ever.

Your compassionate team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is wholly committed to providing you, your family, and every patient with comprehensive periodontal care that improves your oral health and daily function. We pride ourselves on offering a safe, comfortable, and relaxing environment to ensure all patients receive the personalized care and treatment that is expected and deserved. You will find us to excel in effective communication, both in listening and sharing examination objectives. With our initiative-taking engagement in the dental industry and the constant innovative technological improvements offered, each exam and corresponding treatment is completely personalized. Call Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at 502-570-5700 with any questions or to make an appointment for a guided tissue regeneration evaluation.

Benefits of Guided Tissue Regeneration

Guided tissue regeneration, or GTR, helps heal periodontal disease. It repairs the damage to your gums and your jawbone. It is crucial to maintain consistent good dental habits, which include brushing twice a day and regular preventative dental visits. Periodontal disease can be associated with diabetes or cardiovascular issues, so you need to maintain your efforts to keep yourself healthy.

In addition to encouraging dental implant placement, guided tissue regeneration is used to strengthen and fortify empty sockets where teeth are missing and strengthen jawbone tissue that has been damaged by other matters such as tumors, cysts, or impacted teeth. Guided tissue regeneration is performed by Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry to also help you if you have congenital dental disorders or if you have had diseases that have affected the strength of oral tissues or underlying bones.

The Guided Tissue Regeneration Process

Guided tissue regeneration is a treatment to encourage and promote bone growth and then place a protective barrier around the gum tissue to isolate that growth. After the specific pocket has been diligently cleaned and sanitized, a bioabsorbable membrane is carefully placed between the gum tissue and the bone. Bone grafts, tissue-stimulating proteins, or space holders are then placed by the team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry within this membrane to achieve the desired goal. The membrane will naturally help the tissue to grow into the desired shape and is slowly reabsorbed into your body.

Directly after your guided tissue regeneration, your body naturally reacts by forming a blood clot within the graft, releasing growth hormones that encourage healing. The clot is absorbed into your body and replaced with healthy, normal blood vessels and granulation tissue. This new, healthy vascular system creates a weave of bone tissue, restoring a healthy, structural base.

The entire process takes a few months. Successfully guided tissue regeneration with the team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will prepare you for dental restorations such as dental implants.

Aftercare Following Guided Tissue Regeneration

Once your procedure is finished, Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will suggest you do a few things to heal and recover properly:

Ice Pack- For the first six hours following your procedure, you can apply an ice pack to your face twice an hour for ten minutes each time to control discomfort and swelling.
Dental Hygiene- Do not brush your teeth around the surgical site for a week after the surgery. Simply use a Q-tip and be gentle. Do not floss until the sutures have been removed.
Medications- If we prescribe medicine, follow our instructions.
Aspirin- You may consider taking aspirin three times per day for the first few days following the surgery. After that, take as needed. Most over-the-counter pain relievers are not to be taken for more than a week.
Sleep on an Incline- You may need to sleep with your head elevated. This will reduce swelling and make recovery less painful.

Periodontitis Needs to be Avoided

Periodontitis, or gum disease, occurs when your teeth are not cleaned regularly. Clear plaque full of bacteria forms on your teeth, creating gingivitis first and then developing into periodontitis. Guided tissue regeneration is not a common procedure. It heals what damage has been done, but that damage will return if you do not keep your teeth clean.

Guided Tissue Regeneration Treatment Costs

Your guided tissue regeneration treatment cost depends on your individual needs and your personal treatment plan. Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will share the cost of the GTR treatment, your insurance coverage, and available payment options before we begin, so we can make the best choice together for your situation.

Your Smile is Our Number One Priority

Our treatment philosophy at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is focused on patient education and the enhancement of your quality of life. We provide gentle, affordable, and painless periodontal care. We prioritize providing each patient with the information they need to make confident, informed decisions regarding their personal oral health treatment. Our experience is foundational in giving you restoratively minded periodontal treatment customized for your unique needs.

Our team specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and in the placement of dental implants. We consider ourselves experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. We have received extensive education and training in these areas. We are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and we are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

You can find Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at:

107 Frazier Ct., 1D, Georgetown, KY

Or call us today at 502-570-5700