A biopsy involves the collection of a tissue sample and is indicated when a histological analysis must be performed in cases where a lesion is suspected (the analysis will determine if the lesion is benign or malignant) or if a legion persists beyond two or three weeks after suppression of the etiological factors. This involves minor surgery under a local anesthetic.

Tooth extraction may be advised when a tooth shows severe periodontal disease, is broken, or has an abscess. When a tooth is extracted, a combination of factors contributes to the bone remodeling process. The preferred approach to preserve sufficient bone level is bone preservation, a technique that offers the widest choice of replacement for one or several extracted teeth.

A tooth with a break or cavity below the gumline cannot be restored properly since access and visibility are compromised. Surgery is necessary, therefore, to restore the tooth. The procedure is called crown lengthening.

This is a minor procedure that reduces the height of the gum and bone to expose the decayed or broken part and increase the crown portion of the tooth. Once the operation is completed, the dentist can restore the tooth while maintaining the space needed between the repair or crown and the supporting tissues.

Distal wedge surgery is a simple procedure. This operation is necessary to correct excess gum tissue covering the back of a tooth. The excess tissue creates a reservoir for bacteria, increasing the risk of infection and bone destruction.

What is an impacted tooth? In some patients, genetics has decided that there is insufficient space in the mouth for all the teeth. In effect, the impacted tooth is stuck in the gum due to poor positioning. To enable the teeth to erupt in the right place, part of them must be exposed surgically. This treatment is generally performed with an orthodontist. It involves minor surgery under a local anesthetic.

Frena are folds of mucous membrane that connect the lip to the gum and the floor of the mouth to the tongue. Since the frenum creates tension on the gum, it can retract and increase the risk of the teeth loosening. Performing a frenectomy can remedy these problems. Frenectomy is a simple surgery that consists of incising the frenum to eliminate its tensile effect.

An occlusal stint or bite guard is a custom molded plastic appliance made from an imprint of the teeth. It is recommended for persons suffering from bruxism and/or clenching and grinding of the teeth.

Periodontal laser therapy helps effectively and predictably treat periodontitis. Its sterilizing, anti-inflammatory and biostimulant action cleans and disinfects the periodontal pockets. Combined with scaling and root planing, this treatment provides excellent results.

Periodontitis is an infection of the gums that results in the loss of bone and support around the teeth. Like gingivitis, periodontitis is caused by the accumulation of bacteria on the tooth, under the gum line. In addition to redness and bleeding, periodontitis is characterized by the formation of a space between the gum and the tooth called a periodontal pocket. The pocket is the result of bone loss around the tooth. These spaces are difficult to clean and, therefore, favour the progression of the disease. Without treatment, periodontitis can cause the loss of the affected tooth.

Smile correction involves a minor surgery. Once normal teeth have grown in and developed, there may be excess gum that forms around them. This makes the gums much more visible and the teeth appear smaller, compromising the esthetics of a person’s smile.

Happily, this problem is easy to solve by performing a minor surgical correction, called esthetic crown lengthening, which eliminates the surplus gum and redesigns a more esthetically pleasing gum structure.

Splinting is recommended when there is bone loss or major loosening of the teeth. Splinting or joining a tooth to a neighbouring tooth or teeth helps redistribute the forces exerted on all the teeth during chewing and supports teeth that are weakened.

A tissue graft is when a thin layer of tissue is removed from the roof of the mouth, or a tissue donor may be used. The tissue is grafted to the area where the gum has receded to reinforce and rebuild the attached gum, thereby stabilizing the area. The success rate of this procedure is excellent.