Gum cleaning is also known as root scaling, root planing or deep cleaning. Gum cleaning is the process whereby plaque and tartar deposited below the gumline are removed. Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that feeds off the food you eat and occasionally off your own tissues. The digestive enzymes and waste these bacteria secrete are toxic to gum and bone tissue. Plaque is able to reside just below the gumline, making it diffcult to see and remove.

If plaque is not cleaned off consistently, the bacteria, toxins, and food gathered solidifies into tartar or calculus that can only be removed by scaling treatment by your dentists. If tartar is not treat gum disease may occur.

Gingivectomy is a surgical periodontal procedure in removing or reshaping gums. A gingivectomy may be done to get rid of diseased gum tissue or pockets between the teeth and gums if it cannot be cured with antibiotics or root planing and scaling. Gingivectomy is usually done before gum disease has damaged the bone supporting your teeth.

At BIDC, only a gum specialists or periodontists is given the privileges to perform the gingivectomy surgical procedure. The peridontist starts by numbing your gums with a local anesthetic and may use a laser or periodontal instruments to remove loose gum tissue.

Gingivoplasty is a procedure used to reshape and re-contour the gum tissue for cosmetic, physiological, or functional purposes. Gingivoplasty is normally done in combination with gingivectomy. Many patients have a gummy smile which is caused by excessive and overgrown gum tissue that can be removed using gingivoplasty for a more regularly shaped and attractive gums.

A gingival graft or gum grafting is the procedure whereby tissue is added onto cover the exposed portion of the root to repair a defect and help prevent additional gum recession, bone loss and protects the tooth.

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure done to expose a greater amount of tooth structure, An incision is made on the gingival tissue around a tooth and the surround soft tissue displaced or remove to expose a given height of the alveolar bone. At BIDC, only a gum specialists or periodontists is given the privileges to perform the crown-lengthening surgical procedure.

Crown lengthening may be done to improve the esthetics of gum line prior to restoration of broken or severely decayed teeth. This procedure adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored aesthetically.

Crown lengthening is also sometimes done to improve a “gummy” smile because the teeth appear short even though the teeth may be of proper length. Crown lenghtening may be used to remove excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth.