Periodontal/Orthodontic Therapies

Tooth exposure/bonding

The goal of exposing/ bonding a bracket on to an unerupted tooth is to move the tooth into a healthy functional and aesthetic position. Exposure of the tooth requires surgically removing soft or hard tissue that may be overlying the tooth and preventing from erupting. The procedures are designed to promote proper eruption by simply removing the overlying tissue. The teeth most likely to get this procedure done are upper canines, upper central incisors, molars and sometimes premolars.

Gingivectomy

Wearing braces can sometimes result in inflamed overgrown gums. Sometimes this makes it difficult for the orthodontist to straiten and align teeth. A gingivectomy is the removal of gum tissue and a type of gum surgery designed to reshape excess gum tissue around the teeth. Dr. Cook can sometimes use a laser and be done without cutting and suture. In some cases, traditional surgery may need to be done.

Frenectomies

Frenectomy is the surgical procedure that removes all or part of the frenum, which is a thin tissue band that is found in several areas of our mouth. The surgery is often performed on midline frenum tissue located between the two front teeth. It is a common dental surgery and helps prevent the two anterior teeth from separating following orthodontic therapy to close this space.

Transeptal fiberotomy

The most frequently encountered post-orthodontic problem is the retention of re-established tooth position where teeth want to drift back into their pre-orthodontic positions.

This orthodontic surgical procedure is employed for patients that have had teeth rotated through orthodontics and want to reduce the chance for relapse. This technique involves severing the gingival ligament fibers around the tooth. These fibers are similar to a twisted rubber band that when cut release the tension between the fibers and reduce the forces that try to pull the tooth back into its original position.

It is performed near the completion of orthodontics and requires minimal anesthesia and associated with minimal to no post-op discomfort. Simple cuts are made to release the ligament fibers and no sutures are usually placed.