Procedures
One of the most frequently applied grafting procedures is the Sinus Augmentation. This is a procedure that was developed to literally raise the bottom of the sinus back up, graft bone underneath it and thus create enough space for one or more dental implants.
This procedure has been performed successfully for over two decades now and is considered an accepted and predictable method of bone grafting.
Sinus Augmentations and implants placement can often be performed as a single procedure.
Osseous Surgery - Bone Regeneration
Increasingly both aesthetic and functional factors must be considered prior to implant placement, especially in the aesthetic zones. Frequently, bone augmentation is required, either prior to or simultaneous with implant placement. The use of bone graft substitutes and barrier membranes has become the standard of care for treatment of bony defects in preparation for implant placement.
Where does the bone come from?
We are currently using a porous bone mineral named Bio-Oss®. Bio-Oss is a safe, effective bone graft material from specially processed bovine sources. Under the electron microscope, Bio-Oss looks very similar to human bone. Because of its similarity to human bone, Bio-Oss is highly successful in helping new bone to form. In many cases using Bio-Oss eliminated the need for additional surgery to obtain your own bone as grafting material.
Accelerated Orthodontics – Wilckodotics ™
Over 4 years of research has culminated in the development of a new procedure by which teeth can be moved approximately 4 times faster that ever before possible with conventional orthodontics. As a result, the treatment time for most orthodontic cases can be reduced to 3-8 months. This new patented method is a combination of time-tested and proven techniques from the fields of orthodontics and periodontics and is called the Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics™
(AOO ™) procedure. (Wilckodontics® Inc). Dr Friedman in one of only six dentists currently licensed to perform this procedure in Washington State.
We now have a treatment option that can appeal to a segment of our population that was not interested in conventional orthodontic treatment.
Our experience with this technique has been extremely positive. We have performed this procedure on patients and all have tolerated the procedure well beyond their expectations, and we have seen few post-operative complications. It is exciting to be able to offer a periodontal procedure that patients eagerly look forward to having performed
Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including periodontal disease or aggressive tooth brushing. You may not be in control of what caused the recession, but prior to treatment your periodontist and general dentist can help you identify the factors contributing to the problem. Once these contributing factors are controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure will repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss.
Soft tissue grafts can be used to cover roots or develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. During this procedure, your periodontist takes gum tissue from your palate (the roof of you mouth) or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.
Most of our tissue grafts are done using a donor tissue call Alloderm which is processed from donated human skin. Using AlloDerm for tissue repair is like using your own tissue except that you will avoid a second surgical site. Also, you will further minimize any potential problems at the repair site because AlloDerm will regenerate into your own tissue.
When getting a new crown, the general dentist must prepare your tooth in order to place the crown. Sometimes there is not enough tooth structure above the gumline to accept a new crown. “Crown lengthening” provides more tooth structure for your crown. This ensures a more stable crown with less gum irritation afterwards
Crown lengthening is done with a local anesthetic. Dr Friedman gently recontours excess gum and bone tissue to expose more of your natural tooth.
Dr Friedman frequently extracts teeth in conjunction with implant placement. Dr Friedman uses a special technique that not only preserves bone but also maintains the natural shape of your gum tissue to create the best aesthetic result possible.
In the United States alone, thousands of teeth are extracted annually, primarily because of decay, severe periodontal disease, infection or trauma. The jaw bone that supports the teeth, "alveolar bone," which is generally soft and vascular, often melts away or resorbs following tooth removal. Such bone resorption can result in significant cosmetic or functional defects, including loss of surrounding gum tissue. Today, however, bioengineering has led to simple but effective surgical techniques that can either totally prevent or greatly reduce the bone and soft tissue loss that normally occurs following tooth extraction.
Following removal of the tooth a specially bioengineered graft material that helps support bone formation is placed within the extraction socket. This bone graft material, Bio-Oss®, with structure similar to human bone, not only supports new bone growth but also has been shown to preserve bone and overlying soft tissue following tooth removal.
We use two different types of sedation in our practice depending on the patients preference.
Conscious sedation “Orally administered sedation” sometime called Sedation Dentistry is administered by taking a pill. All body functions remain normal and the person is able to breath on their own. The patient will be awake and able to respond to commands, but will be in a state of extreme relaxation. Some degree of amnesia is common; the patient does not always remember fragments of their appointment and do not have a real sense of time passing.
Oral sedatives do not provide pain relief, so an injection of local anesthetic will also be administered.
We use Ativan also known as Lorazapam which provides a deep level of relaxation and amnesia effect. The patient will take one tablet the night before a dentistry procedure and one an hour before the dental appointment.
General Anesthesia is a type of anesthesia where you are put into a deep sleep. It is also known as "being put under", "put to sleep", and "completely out".
This method of dental sedation refers to the use of anesthetic to render the patient unconscious. Unlike other sedation methods, the patient will be completely unaware of his or her surroundings.
Because of the possibility for rapid changes in the anesthetized patient a qualified anesthesiologist will be continuously present to monitor the patient and provide anesthesia care.