Surgically Assisted Orthodontics

Impacted Teeth Uncovery/Surgically Assisted Eruption

An “impacted” tooth is a tooth that has failed to pass through the gums, often due to overcrowding. ”Erupted” teeth are teeth that have passed through the gums. In most cases, impacted teeth may need “help” to erupt in the proper position. This may prevent disruption of the position of neighboring teeth and to maintain the integrity of the bite. The procedure involves opening a flap and removing small amounts of hard tissue in order to bond an orthodontic “button” to a tooth that is not properly positioned in the arch. Once the button is bonded to the tooth, the orthodontist can move this tooth into the appropriate place. Assistance in erupting impacted teeth is best performed by a skilled periodontist who specializes in maintaining and preserving the integrity of both the tooth supporting bone and gingival tissue. By observing the principles of bone remodeling and its response to orthodontic movement, the team at Diablo Periodontics & Dental Implants can provide the surgical care needed to move an impacted tooth into its proper position. We invite you to contact our office today to learn more.

Gingival Grafts

This treatment involves the utilization of a small piece of tissue generally removed from the roof of the mouth and placed in the area of concern: generally a zone of thin, friable tissue or in an area of current recession. This technique helps to protect and maintain the foundation of the teeth before, during and after orthodontic movement and may help correct or prevent further recession. There are several variations of gingival grafts available to the patient. Your dentist will be happy to discuss your treatment options with you during your periodontal consultation.

Periodontally Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics (PAOO)/Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics (AOO)

PAOO is ideal for patients who want braces, but do not want the traditionally long treatment time. In the hands of an experienced periodontist, the orthodontic treatment time can be dramatically shortened while still yielding the healthiest and most attractive result. PAOO significantly decreases the treatment time (potentially from 1 year to 6 months, and from 2 years to 6-8 months), enhances the range of movement, may require fewer permanent extractions, and recently research on the subject has reported less root resorption. Within the last 2 decades, as periodontal and orthodontic experts have learned more about the bone’s ability to heal and remodel, there has been a renewed focus on the proper way to accomplish accelerated orthodontic treatment. For this procedure, the gum tissue is gently separated from the bone, making a “flap”. The bone is then activated by creating small cuts into the bone to facilitate the orthodontic movement, and the sites are then augmented with graft material. After this, orthodontic treatment begins. By stimulating the supporting bone and concentrating on the bone’s response to tooth movement, the teeth can be moved rapidly and the bone will rebuild itself when the process is complete. Utilizing this cutting-edge concept, Periodontally Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics, can move teeth safely and rapidly to achieve ideal results within a shorter timeframe. As experts in the field of periodontology, the study of the structures that support the teeth, our dentists can offer the high level of customized care that you deserve.