SURGICAL DENTAL TREATMENTS 

FOR THE ALLEN & MCKINNEY, TX AREAS

When periodontal/gum disease has damaged the soft tissues of the mouth and the teeth, sometimes the only way a patient can regain their healthy, beautiful smile is with a surgical procedure. Fortunately, at our practice, we have The Oral Plastic Surgeon. Thanks to our team's years of experience, we are able to provide a wide variety of restorative procedures that can combat gum recession, restore missing teeth, and dramatically improve the appearance of your smile. Our gentle touch and skilled hands will make sure your entire experience, both during and after a procedure, will be comfortable, relaxed, and yield fantastic results.

DENTAL IMPLANTS
Rebuild Your Smile for a Lifetime

Dental implants are currently the premier tooth replacement solution available today, able to rebuild any number of missing teeth from the root up. In the end, the results they provide are more natural-looking and long-lasting than any other treatment. To begin your journey to reclaim your smile, our team can expertly place your implants to make sure your new teeth have a strong and sturdy foundation. With them, you’ll be seeing your complete smile in the mirror again in no time.

There’s no question: dental implants are the premier tooth replacement solution available today. They are able to reliably restore any number of missing teeth, and they provide the most durable and natural- looking results compared any other treatment. Period. At our practice, we are able to expertly place dental implants into the jawbone in order to create a strong foundation for new teeth. With them, you’ll be able to regain your confident smile and enjoy your favorite foods with ease again. To learn more about this treatment and what it could do for you, contact us today for a consultation.

Placement of Dental Implants for Crown & Bridges

A dental implant is actually a small titanium post that is placed directly into the jawbone in order to create a brand new tooth root. This can then be attached to a variety of prosthetics, including crowns and bridges, to replace one or multiple missing teeth.

For the placement procedure, you’ll be thoroughly numbed with local anesthesia, and then Dr. Robertson will make a small incision in your gums to expose your jawbone. She’ll slowly place the implant post(s) within the bone, and then she’ll suture the gums closed.

After this, you’ll be given 3-6 months to heal, during which time the implants will actually bond directly to the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration. Once you are completely healed, you’ll return to your general dentist to have your new teeth placed.

Placement of Dental Implants for Dentures

Dental implants can also be used to support a partial or full denture that is much more stable and durable than a traditional removable prosthetic. The placement procedure is very similar to that of dental crowns and bridges, except you’ll receive four to eight implants at the same time depending on your needs. They will be topped with either ball-shaped joints or a metal bar that the denture will simply snap onto. It will not be removable (except by your dentist), and it will give you a more natural-looking and feeling smile you’ll be able to enjoy for many years.

Teeth-in-a-Day

The name of this service says it all. If you are missing multiple teeth, even an entire row, we can help you restore them in a single day. And, we won’t just give you a traditional denture, but a strong and lifelike implant-retained denture. Our team is able to place and restore dental implants in a single appointment so you can reclaim your smile and get back to your life in less time than ever.

We’re Your Place for Soft Tissue Grafting

The perfect smile shows just the right proportion of teeth, gums, and lips, and anything that throws off this balance can leave a smile looking less than stellar. If you feel self-conscious about your smile due to gum recession making your teeth appear too long, we have the solution. With soft tissue grafting, she can restore your gums and give you that beautifully balanced look you desire. The procedure can be completed in just one appointment, and thanks to local anesthesia, you’ll barely feel a thing.

Does your uneven gum line cause you to feel self-conscious about your smile? Has gum recession left your teeth looking unnaturally long? With soft tissue grafting, We can give you the perfectly balanced and beautiful smile you deserve. You’ll be amazed at how just slightly altering your gums will completely change your smile’s appearance, all thanks to The Oral Plastic Surgeon.

How Soft Tissue Grafting Works

With soft tissue grafting, our goal is to build up your gum tissue to give your smile a more proportional and even appearance. To do this, we’ll place a small portion of tissue harvested from the roof of your mouth right where you need it, or we can use donated tissue. The procedure will be performed using local anesthesia so you’ll be comfortable the entire time, and you should be completely healed within a week or so. In the end, you’ll achieve a gorgeous result that will fill your smile with confidence.

Want to get the stunning, attractive smile you’ve always wanted? Soft tissue grafting could be exactly what you need. To learn more about our soft tissue grafting procedure or to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact our office today. We're proud to serve patients throughout Allen, McKinney, TX, and the surrounding areas.

 
 

Chao Pinhole Technique
Fast & Painless Gum Recession Treatment

Many patients who come to see us have developed gum recession, in which the soft tissues of the mouth have actually started to pull away from the teeth. This cannot only affect the overall look of the smile, but it also makes the teeth more vulnerable to decay, because the sensitive roots are exposed to bacteria and plaque. In the past, gum surgery was the only way to fix this problem, but fortunately, our team is now able to offer a much gentler, yet just as effective solution. The Chao Pinhole Technique allows her to quickly and comfortably treat gum recession in a single appointment without surgery, saving a patient the time and discomfort usually associated with a traditional gum graft.

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Pinhole Surgical Technique

Traditionally, the only way to treat a patient with gum recession was to perform a surgical gum graft, but now, Dr. Robertson is able to help patients achieve fantastic results without using scalpels or sutures. With the Pinhole Surgical Technique, she can gently massage and reposition receded gums back into their original position using only a tiny hole placed into the tissue, improving both the health and appearance of the smile. Because this approach is non-surgical, it’s easy for a patient to remain comfortable while in the chair, and recovery is nice and fast as well. Most patients experience little to no post-treatment symptoms like swelling, bleeding, or tenderness, and results can be seen almost instantly.

How Does the Chao Pinhole Technique Work?

Whether someone’s gum recession is due to periodontal disease, physical trauma, or genetics, the Chao Pinhole Technique is consistently able to deliver fantastic results. With a traditional gum graft, a small piece of tissue is harvested from a patient’s mouth and used to replace the receded gums, which isn’t exactly a pleasant experience. Using the Chao Pinhole Technique, however, Dr. Robertson is able to achieve the same quality results without a patient experiencing swelling, bleeding, or excessive tenderness afterward. The procedure itself is quite simple:

• A small hole, literally the size of a pin, is placed into the gums near where they have receded. A patient barely feels this as it is done.
• Using a special dental instrument, Dr. Robertson gradually massages, stretches, and repositions the gums into a more desirable/healthy position over the teeth.
• And that’s it! The gums are not stitched into place like with a gum graft, and a patient will be able to see results the same day as treatment. The hole itself will quickly heal, perhaps even overnight.

The Benefits of the Chao Pinhole Technique

Compared to traditional gum graft surgery, the Chao Pinhole Technique offers several advantages:

• Because the procedure is so non-invasive, a patient experiences virtually no discomfort while in the chair. Often, anesthetic isn’t even necessary.
• Healing time is minimal, and a patient will have practically no post-treatment symptoms like pain, swelling, and bleeding.
• Results can be seen in the chair on the same day as treatment, and a few days afterward, it won’t look like anything was ever wrong with the gums in the first place!

Is the Chao Pinhole Technique Right For You?

If you have gum recession or an uneven gum line, the Chao Pinhole Technique might be exactly what you need to achieve a healthy, attractive, and confidence-boosting smile. You can learn a little more about the procedure here, and if you have questions and would like to speak to our team, please give us a call any time.

Bone Grafting
Your First Step to a New Smile

For a patient hoping to get dental implants, one of the basic requirements is that they have an adequate amount of healthy jawbone to support them. A patient who has dealt with tooth loss for a long time may have a jawbone that is simply too thin and brittle to safely support implants due to bone loss, which naturally occurs after a tooth has gone missing. Fortunately a bone graft builds up the jawbone, increasing its height and thickness so a patient can finally receive implants.

In order for a patient to get dental implants, they need an adequate amount of healthy jawbone to support the posts. Unfortunately, one of the common side effects of tooth loss is bone loss in the jaw, which can cause it to become too thin or brittle to securely hold implants. However, this doesn’t mean a patient can’t receive implant care. The Center of Endodontics Periodontics and Implantology can help build up and strengthen the jawbone using a procedure known as bone grafting.

For a bone graft, our team will use a small bit of harvested bone from your own body (either from your hip or a rib), donated bone, or a lab-made bone grafting material to strengthen and thicken your jawbone. After making a small incision in your gums, she’ll place the material right where she intends to locate the implants. This will stimulate new bone growth in the area, and after a few weeks of healing, you’ll safely be able to receive dental implants.

A bone graft could be your first step to reclaiming your complete smile. Do you need one? Learn more or schedule a consultation, contact us today.

RIDGE MODIFICATION
Improve Your Smile

This procedure is used to build up the bone that surrounds and supports an individual tooth, and it is mostly utilized after a tooth has gone missing in order to make replacing it with a dental implant much easier in the future. Whether you have a tooth that needs to be removed or are interested in having one restored with an implant, a ridge modification may be your first step to having a complete set of teeth again.

The teeth do not simply “sit” in the jawbone. A closer look reveals that they are actually supported by the gums and bone that surround them. When a tooth goes missing, whether due to advanced periodontal disease, decay, or injury, a patient will likely want to have it replaced, often with dental implants. In order for this treatment to be viable, the ridge, or the bone that supports a tooth, needs to be nice and strong. It will naturally start to shrink and weaken after a tooth has gone missing, so to make sure it is sturdy enough to hold an implant, Dr. Fatima Robertson may choose to perform what is called a ridge modification.

The purpose of this treatment is to reshape and strengthen the bone that holds up a tooth in order to make it a good place for a dental implant. Dr. Robertson will place a synthetic bone grafting material directly on the area to stimulate new bone growth, and after a few months of healing, a patient should be ready for implant placement.

Gum Grafting
Restore What You Have Lost

Gum recession is one of the most common symptoms of gum disease, causing the tissue to pull back from the teeth and expose the vulnerable roots. This actually makes them more likely develop decay, become loose, and eventually fall out. With a gum graft, Dr. Robertson can prevent this from happening by building up the gum tissue around your teeth. This will not only restore your smile’s appearance, but it will also provide your teeth with the essential protection they need.

Gum recession is one of the most common symptoms of periodontal disease. Left untreated, it can negatively impact the appearance of the smile and even make the teeth more likely to fall out because the sensitive roots are exposed to decay. In order to restore both your smile’s health and splendor, Dr. Fatima Robertson can perform what is called a gum graft.

For this, she will harvest a bit of healthy tissue from the roof of your mouth, and this will be placed over the area where your gums have receded. After a few weeks of healing, the new tissue will fully integrate with the surrounding gums to give you a complete, natural-looking result. This procedure can usually be completed over the course of just one appointment while using local anesthesia to ensure your comfort. In the end, it will give you the kind of smile you’re always proud to show off.

Is gum recession causing you to hide your smile? A gum graft could easily make that anxiety a thing of the past. To learn more about it and how it could help you, contact us today.

Do I Need a Sinus Augmentation
in Allen?

When a patient wants to replace missing teeth towards the back of the upper jaw, sometimes a sinus augmentation is a necessary first step. This will build up and strengthen a thin or weak jawbone in order to make it thick enough to support implants. It will also ensure that a dental implant will not pierce the sensitive membrane that surrounds the sinuses located right above the jaw.

A sinus augmentation is a prerequisite procedure a patient may need to undergo before dental implant placement can be safely performed if they are looking to replace missing teeth towards the back of the upper jaw. This part of the jaw is right underneath the sinus cavities, which aren’t just empty spaces in your skull, but an area surrounded by a thin membrane. A sinus augmentation allows Dr. Fatima Robertson to build up this portion of the jaw so dental implants can be placed without piercing the sensitive membrane.

A sinus augmentation can usually be completed in just one appointment, and you’ll be completely numbed using local anesthesia. Dr. Robertson will make a small incision in the gums to reach the jawbone, and then she’ll place a bone grafting material to stimulate new growth in the area. She may also need to gently push the sinus membrane up to create enough room for the jawbone to grow. After a few weeks of healing, your jaw will be thick enough to hold implants.

To learn more about a sinus augmentation and how it could benefit you, please contact us today.

CROWN LENGTHENING
Improve Your Gum Health

Crown lengthening is a procedure where Dr. Robertson can reshape and remove the bone located around the root of a tooth in order to expose more of the crown and make it appear longer. This can be used to improve the appearance of a “gummy” smile, make it possible for a patient to receive a dental crown or veneer restoration, or help Dr. Robertson remove infected tissue. In the end, the result will be a more healthy and attractive smile.

Do you have a “gummy” smile where your teeth are overshadowed by too much gum tissue? Do you wish that your teeth could be just a little bit longer? If so, then Dr. Fatima Robertson, The Oral Plastic Surgeon, can provide exactly what you need in the form of crown lengthening. Like the name suggests, this procedure’s goal is to expose more of a tooth’s crown (the portion that shows above the gum line) in order to improve both the health and appearance of the smile.

Your teeth consist of two main parts: a root and a crown. A small portion of the crown is actually hidden by the gums and bone that support the teeth, and with crown lengthening, we can reveal it to provide a number of benefits. With it, Dr. Fatima Robertson can:

• Expose a damaged portion of a tooth below the gum line in order to repair it.
• Make a tooth’s crown longer to improve the appearance of a “gummy” smile.
• Make a tooth’s crown longer so it can securely fit a dental crown or porcelain veneer.

Using just a few small incisions, Dr. Robertson will be able to access the bone supporting a tooth and gently reshape it to make the crown longer. This can not only drastically change the look of a person’s smile, but it can also be an essential step for a patient hoping to receive a dental crown or porcelain veneer.

Crown lengthening can typically be completed over the course of a single appointment while using a local anesthetic. For this, Dr. Robertson will make a few small incisions in the gums around a tooth to expose the bone, and then she’ll gently reshape the area to reveal more of the crown. From there, she’ll close the gums, and you should be completely healed within a week or less.

If you can’t figure out why one of your teeth is hurting, or if you’d simply like to get rid of your “gummy” smile, crown lengthening could be the answer you need. To learn more about it and how it can help, contact us today.

Dental
Regenerative Procedures

If left untreated, gum disease can be an extremely damaging infection, affecting the teeth, gums, and bone within the mouth. It can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including pain, gum recession, and even tooth loss to name a few. To help counteract these effects, Dr. Robertson can perform a number of restorative procedures, including bone and soft tissue grafts, to bring back everything you’ve lost so you can have a healthy, stunning smile for years to come.

 
Learn More About Regenerative Procedures
 

Dental Pocket Reduction Surgery

Gum disease most often tends to develop in the small spaces located between the gums and teeth called periodontal pockets. As gum disease worsens, these pockets can fill with bacteria, grow, and make a person much more likely to redevelop the infection even after it has been treated. To prevent this, Dr. Roberson can perform this procedure to greatly reduce the size of these pockets. This will not only prevent gum disease in the future, but it will also help restore the original look of your smile.

Learn More About Pocket Reduction Surgery
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3D CONE BEAM TECHNOLOGY
Helps Us See More

A traditional 2D X-ray gives a dentist tons of useful information, but sometimes, we need just a little bit more. In these situations, we like to use our 3D Cone Beam scanner. With it, Dr. Fatima Robertson can create a fully three-dimensional X-ray image of the teeth, jaw, and other surrounding oral structures.

The advantage of this kind of image over a typical X-ray is that it shows us the relationship between the different parts of your dental anatomy, plus it also shows the soft tissues. This helps us gain a deeper understanding of your dental health, plus it allows us to better plan for more complicated procedures such as dental implant placement.

We understand just how important the appearance of your smile is to you – and it’s just as important to us! That is why our periodontists work hard so you have the healthiest, most beautiful smile using comprehensive and efficient laser gum surgery with BIOLASE laser technology.

Laser gum surgery using BIOLASE lasers offers a safe alternative to typical dental drills. The lasers combine light energy with a stream of water for a revitalized, highly precise laser gum surgery experience. BIOLASE laser gum surgery procedures are patient-friendly as they are faster, gentler, less painful, and minimally invasive. By using these lasers, our specialists can perform successful gum procedures without the harmful and invasive drilling from traditional surgery methods.

Treat Your
Gums & Other Oral Conditions

For a better treatment experience at our dental office, we use our BIOLASE dental lasers for a wide range of gum procedures, including gum grafting and gum disease. If you’re unsure whether you need gum surgery or other oral plastic surgery, speaking with a dental specialist from our practice can get you the treatments your smile deserves before your condition worsens.

Restore the health of your smile and experience the benefits of advanced BIOLASE dental lasers.

GUM RECESSION THERAPY
Bring Back Your Smile

Gum recession is one of the most common symptoms of periodontal disease, which is where the infection actually causes the gums to start pulling away from teeth. This process happens very slowly and can actually be very hard to notice, but over time, it can make the teeth appear unnaturally long and expose their sensitive roots, making them more likely to decay and fall out. We have a number of treatments that can combat this to make sure your smile is well protected.

Do your teeth appear curiously longer than they have before? If so, then it’s likely that you are suffering from gum recession. Gum recession is very common, and it typically has two main causes:

• Periodontal disease due to inconsistent oral hygiene
• Overly aggressive brush and flossing.

The second cause can usually be easily addressed by changing toothbrushes or simply using a lighter touch during your home routine. The first cause is a little more problematic, however. Depending on the extent of your periodontal disease, Dr. Robertson may suggest more consistent brushing and flossing, a scaling and root planing treatment, or ultimately, a gum graft.

A gum graft uses either your own harvested tissue or donor tissue to restore the gums that have been lost to give you a nice, even and healthy looking gum line.

If gum recession is affecting the appearance of your smile or causing your teeth to feel more sensitive, please give us a call, and we’ll quickly help you find the right solution.