Livingston Periodontal Associates

Guided Tissue Regeneration

This is one of the most exciting and promising fields of periodontics. GTR is a method in which we are able to literally grow new bone and attachment around teeth, implants and even in areas where teeth are missing. Different membranes are used (see schematic) – sometimes with bone grafts, and sometimes with other growth factors – to aid the body in regenerating lost tissue.

Periodontal Disease Treatments

Bone graft
Bone grafts are bone that is placed around teeth, implants and used to do ridge augmentation and sinus lifts. The bone can either come from the patient or from a tissue bank. Bone from a tissue bank is carefully screened and tested, and has NEVER been linked to the transmission of any disease.
Click here for a safety statement from the University of Miami Tissue Bank.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics sometimes can help in the treatment of periodontal disease. Since bacteria are the root cause of this disease it makes sense. They are not a cure because they don’t remove the tartar and calculus that has formed. But they do often reduce inflammation and aid us in your treatment.

Antibiotics can be given in 2 ways – pills that you would take for about a week, or placed below the gum line with a special instrument. There are different situations where one method is better than the other.

Pocket Elimination Surgery
Pockets are spaces that form between the teeth and gums. Bacteria migrate into these pockets and eventually form hard accretions on the roots of the teeth. Usually, the longer it is present the deeper the bacteria migrate and the deeper the pockets are. Imagine the hull of a boat on the water – above the water line (your gum line) the hull (your teeth) are clean and shiny; However; below the water line (your gum line) there are millions of barnacles (calculus and tartar) on the hull (your roots).

Surgery allows us a way to clean these roots, and is necessary when scaling and root planing isn’t sufficient.

Scaling and Root Planing
This is a conservative method of deep cleaning the roots of the teeth, sometimes using local anesthetics. It is a non-surgical treatment modality.


The Practice Overview Bio Office Policies Procedures Overview Cosmetic Procedures Dental Implants Periodontal Disease Sedation Dentist Resources Patient Referral Simplant© Patient Resources Overview Post-Op Instructions Patient Pages Contact Us Home Eric C. Weiss, D.M.D. 340 E. Northfield Rd., Ste. 2A Livingston, NJ 07039 Phone: 973-992-8600 Fax: 973-992-8626 info@livingstonperiodontics.com	Guided Tissue Regeneration This is one of the most exciting and promising fields of periodontics. GTR is a method in which we are able to literally grow new bone and attachment around teeth, implants and even in areas where teeth are missing. Different membranes are used (see schematic) – sometimes with bone grafts, and sometimes with other growth factors – to aid the body in regenerating lost tissue. Periodontal Disease Treatments Bone graft Bone grafts are bone that is placed around teeth, implants and used to do ridge augmentation and sinus lifts. The bone can either come from the patient or from a tissue bank. Bone from a tissue bank is carefully screened and tested, and has NEVER been linked to the transmission of any disease. Click here for a safety statement from the University of Miami Tissue Bank. Antibiotics Antibiotics sometimes can help in the treatment of periodontal disease. Since bacteria are the root cause of this disease it makes sense. They are not a cure because they don’t remove the tartar and calculus that has formed. But they do often reduce inflammation and aid us in your treatment. Antibiotics can be given in 2 ways – pills that you would take for about a week, or placed below the gum line with a special instrument. There are different situations where one method is better than the other. Pocket Elimination Surgery Pockets are spaces that form between the teeth and gums. Bacteria migrate into these pockets and eventually form hard accretions on the roots of the teeth. Usually, the longer it is present the deeper the bacteria migrate and the deeper the pockets are. Imagine the hull of a boat on the water – above the water line (your gum line) the hull (your teeth) are clean and shiny; However; below the water line (your gum line) there are millions of barnacles (calculus and tartar) on the hull (your roots). Surgery allows us a way to clean these roots, and is necessary when scaling and root planing isn’t sufficient. Scaling and Root Planing This is a conservative method of deep cleaning the roots of the teeth, sometimes using local anesthetics. It is a non-surgical treatment modality.