If you are interested in the benefits of tissue regeneration in Overland Park, Kansas, call 913-534-8801 to schedule an appointment with our prosthodontist, Dr. EDward M. Amet, at Reconstructive and Implant Dental Center.
WHAT IS GUIDED TISSUE AND GUIDED BONE REGENERATION AND WHERE CAN THEY BE USED?
Your teeth are at risk because of periodontal disease. It began with the buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth, which may have resulted from insufficient brushing and flossing. Over time, the plaque and tartar have caused loss of the supporting tissue around some of your teeth.
When plaque builds up on a tooth, bacteria in the plaque attack the bone around the tooth as well as the fibers that connect the tooth to the bone. As the fibers and bone are destroyed, a pocket or space forms between the gum and the tooth — an ideal site for more plaque to build up. Without proper hygiene, the process may continue, sometimes without symptoms, until the tooth is endangered.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT TOOTH LOSS OR TO INCREASE BONE FORMATION FOR IMPLANT PLACEMENT?
In GTR therapy for teeth, the soft (gum) tissue is surgically separated from the endangered tooth, and the tooth surface is thoroughly cleaned. Infected tissues are removed from the area. Next, a small piece of material called a GTR membrane is placed against the tooth. If the tooth is to be removed and the implant placed, the soft tissue is then sutured back into place, covering the implant if placed and the membrane for guided bone regeneration. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can also be used, and within a few days, the healing process is proceeding.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF CLINICAL CASE
2) Placement of PRP and a barrier over dental implants with sutures to promote regeneration, GBR.
3) Barrier about to be removed with formation of new bone and supporting tissue.
4) Healthy, regenerated bone and soft tissue with implants in place.
This type of treatment is appropriate for many types of problems. The type and severity of bone and soft tissue loss, your willingness to maintain appropriate oral hygiene, and whether or not you smoke are factors considered by our prosthodontic professional when choosing an appropriate therapy. GTR can improve the condition caused by periodontal disease within six to eight weeks, although complete healing may not be achieved for six months. During this time, the healing wound must be protected from trauma for several weeks.
Healthy regeneration of new bone and supporting tissue with implants, custom abutments & crowns in place.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM GTR OR GBR?
This is how GTR and GBR works: the membrane serves as a barrier that separates fast-growing soft (gum) tissue from the newly cleaned surface of the tooth root (GTR) or placed implant (GBR). This enables slower-growing fibers and bone cells to migrate into the protected area.
Absorbable collagen membrane can be used, and removal of the membrane is unnecessary. It will be completely and naturally dissolved in approximately eight weeks following surgery. In cases of bone regeneration with an extraction site, a nonresorbable membrane will be needed during the time of regeneration
Collagen is a natural material that has been used for many years in medical products. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the animal kingdom and is made of bovine Achilles tendon, one of the purest sources of Type I collagen available.
2) Placement of the barrier to promote the regeneration process.
3) New formation of bone and healing tissue.
4) Healthy, regenerated gums.
WHAT CAN MY DOCTOR DO TO HELP?
Prior to GTR therapy, our prosthodontist will recommend an appropriate oral hygiene program. It is essential that you follow this program; otherwise, GTR therapy has less chance of success and may be ruled out as a treatment option.
THE USE OF PRP WITH GTR & GBR
The surgeon draws approximately 50cc of your blood at the time of surgery. The blood is placed in a specialized centrifuge that spins and automatically separates the red blood cells from the plasma. The plasma is then further centrifuged to concentrate the autologous platelets and hence your natural growth factors. The Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is then available for your surgeon to use as needed. The entire process takes less than 5 minutes and adds no extra time to the surgical procedure.
WHAT IS PLATELET RICH PLASMA (PRP)?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is composed of platelets and plasma. Platelets are tiny cells that are partially responsible for causing blood to clot. Platelets also contain large reservoirs of natural growth factors. While a normal concentration of platelet circulating in your blood is 200,000 per micro liter, the platelet count in PRP can exceed 2 million platelets per micro liter.
WHAT ARE GROWTH FACTORS?
Platelets contain potent growth factors necessary to begin tissue repair and regeneration at the wound site. Growth factors derived from platelets initiate connective tissue healing, bone regeneration and repair, and they also promote development of new blood vessels and stimulate the wound healing process.
IS PRP FOR YOU?
The use of PRP enriched with growth factors is considered by many to be a “new frontier” of clinical therapy. Since PRP can be used in so many types of procedures and for so many types of patients, you should discuss your specific surgery with your doctor.
FOLLOWING GTR THERAPY
Following GTR or GBR therapy, our prosthodontist will provide specific instructions for proper oral hygiene and care of the area under treatment. These may include the following:
• It is important not to disturb the GTR or GBR membrane or the tissue that covers it. our prosthodontist may ask you to refrain from brushing or flossing the treated area for some time following the procedure to avoid damage to healing tissues.
• Specific mouthwashes may be recommended to reduce plaque buildup.
• Our prosthodontist may prescribe an antibiotic to reduce the possibility of a bacterial infection in the surgical area.
• You will be scheduled for postoperative visits. These appointments are important as they allow our prosthodontist to evaluate wound healing and professionally clean the treated area if necessary.
• If the GTR or GBR membrane becomes exposed, or if other problems occur, consult our prosthodontist for additional instructions.
• Some discomfort should be expected following surgery. This is normal for any form of periodontal surgery. When PRP is used, there is no second surgery or additional discomfort.
When our prosthodontist determines that treatment and healing are complete, you may return to a normal hygiene regimen.
It is important to keep in mind that proper hygiene is essential to prevent a serious recurrence of periodontal disease. For many patients, this means adhering more stringently to hygiene practices than in the past since inadequate hygiene was probably a primary factor in the onset of the disease. For these reasons, you should review your brushing and flossing practices with our prosthodontist and make a long-term commitment to following your prescribed regimen.
If you have any questions regarding the GTR or GBR procedure, do not hesitate to discuss it with our prosthodontist.