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Daryl E. Malena DDS Periodontics |
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A
number of relatively new procedures are being in periodontal
reconstruction that deserve mention. Dr. Malena serves on the
Craniofacial Malformation team at Children's Memorial Hospital and sees
many complex reconstruction cases that require techniques not commonly
used in ordinary circumstances.
Bone distraction is a method that dates to the 1950's in Russia. Difficult to graft bone areas are regenerated by cutting a bone apart and separating the two pieces during healing. The technique was not used inside the mouth until recently, and in the last two years several manufacturers have produced miniature devices for oral use. An option for skin grafting in some cases is tissue expansion. Bone cannot grow unless there is space for it, and slowly expanding the soft tissue can produce the extra skin and space that is needed. This is a common plastic surgery technique but is very new in the oral environment. Sinus lift procedures are used to fill all or part of the maxillary sinus with bone graft in order to place dental implants. There are three methods in use. One method utilizes a large incision and opens the side of the sinus to place the bone graft. Another procedure places the bone graft through the hole drilled for the implant. Still another procedure pushes existing bone upward during the placement of the implant. Socket preservation is a term used when special techniques are used to encourage regeneration of the bone in an extracted tooth socket. The body spontaneously fills tooth sockets with bone, however the extent of the bone fill is dependent on the bone walls around the socket that remain after the infection and the tooth extraction. The common use of implants for tooth replacement has made regeneration of the tooth socket critical for successful implants and critical cosmetic concerns. Many of these procedures involve barriers such as are used in other regeneration procedures. Select from the topics at the left, or use the Search feature to find what you are looking for. If you have questions, feel free to contact us. |
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