Periodontal Regenerative Treatment FAQ
What is periodontal regenerative treatment?
While conventional periodontal treatment has centered on stopping the disease from progressing, regenerative therapy is a newer treatment option that aims to bring destroyed periodontal tissue back toward recovery. After bringing inflammation under control, it aims to restore lost supporting tissue as close as possible to its original healthy state. We first examine whether you’re a candidate and let you know.
Who is a candidate?
People who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, people who were told a tooth needs to be extracted but want to know if it can be saved, and people who want to improve receded gums are among the candidates.
We assess the condition of your mouth and the type of defect (such as vertical bone loss, a furcation lesion, or gum recession) and explain how much improvement regenerative treatment can be expected to achieve.
What is the Emdogain method (EMDG)?
It’s a type of periodontal tissue regeneration therapy that applies to the root surface a protein involved in the period when teeth are erupting, to encourage regeneration of the alveolar bone and periodontal ligament, among other tissue.
It was approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2002, designated as advanced medical care in 2007, and is widely used in more than 40 countries worldwide. We decide whether it’s suitable after an examination.
What are examples of when Emdogain is used?
Typical examples include vertical bone loss (a defect where the bone around a particular tooth has sunk vertically), a furcation lesion (where destruction reaches the point where the roots branch), and gum recession (where the gums have receded). We avoid intervening more than the condition calls for, and plan with long-term stability as the priority.
What’s the treatment process for Emdogain?
After local anesthesia, the order is: incise the gum → remove plaque and tartar from the root surface → apply Emdogain gel to the defect → suture.
The procedure is carried out after basic periodontal treatment, and only once we’ve explained the suitability and risks and you’ve agreed. Afterward, we follow up with observation and maintenance.
Can I have GTR (guided tissue regeneration)?
GTR and the Emdogain method are the two regenerative therapies known, but GTR requires a high level of skill to place the resorbable membrane, and risks such as membrane exposure leading to infection have been noted. For this reason, we don’t perform GTR, and we currently mainly offer the Emdogain method.
What is “Bio-Oss”?
Bio-Oss is a type of bone graft material that helps form bone in areas where bone volume or thickness is lacking. It’s derived from natural bovine bone, highly biocompatible, and its safety and effectiveness were approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2011. It’s a material that comes up in explanations of bone augmentation for regenerative treatment and implants (suitability is judged case by case).
What regenerative methods are there for gum recession? (CTG)
Connective tissue grafting (CTG) takes connective tissue from the roof of the upper mouth and transplants it to the area where the gum has receded, to restore both appearance and function.
We judge suitability by looking at the amount of recession, ease of cleaning, and bite, among other things.
The procedure follows the flow: incise → harvest → graft → suture.
Can a gummy smile also be treated?
A gummy smile, where the gums show a lot when you smile, can have a variety of causes, including the muscles, bone structure, tooth size or position, and tooth alignment.
Depending on the cause, we consider options such as gum trimming, crown lengthening, LIP (upper lip mucosa excision), Botox, and orthodontic treatment. Diagnosing the cause comes first.
Please tell me how to book, and about the hours and access.
24-hour online booking is available, and we see patients weekdays 10:00–14:00, 15:00–19:00 (last appointment accepted up to 1 hour before the end of each session). Emergency patients are seen by arrangement.
Access: a 1-minute walk from Toranomon Hills Station (Hibiya Line), a 6-minute walk from Toranomon Station (Ginza Line).
The address is Toranomon Twin Building 1F, 2-10-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku.