Periodontists are often involved in the care of patients who are having orthodontic treatment.
Gum Grafting
Teeth that are being moved for orthodontic reasons sometimes lack the desired tough, healthy gum tissue surrounding them. Inadequate gum tissue can lead to gum recession during or after braces. In order to prevent this, gum grafting is frequently recommended before moving teeth with braces.
Canine Exposures
Occasionally, permanent teeth get stuck in the jawbone and do not come into place as desired. Thankfully, these teeth can be brought into proper position with the use of braces, following a minimal surgical procedure to expose the tooth that is stuck.
Frenectomy
A frenum is a small piece of tissue that restricts the movement of another tissue. In the mouth, they connect the cheeks to the gums, however in some circumstances can place an abnormal amount of pressure on the gums with pulling. This is termed a “frenum pull” and can increase the chance of gum recession. In some cases, the frenum is quite large and may be of a cosmetic concern when a patient smiles. A frenectomy is a simple surgical procedure to relieve the frenum.
