Guided Bone & Tissue Regeneration

Traditional treatment for advanced gum disease focused primarily on eliminating disease — removing infected tissue and recontouring bone to reduce pockets. While effective at halting progression, this approach could not restore what was already lost. Guided bone and tissue regeneration changes that equation, making it possible to rebuild bone and attachment in pockets where disease has caused significant destruction.

How It Works

As periodontal disease advances, pockets of degenerated bone develop around the roots of affected teeth. These pockets become reservoirs for bacteria, fueling continued infection and bone loss.

During a regenerative procedure, our dentists:

1. Thoroughly clean the pocket, removing all infected tissue and bacterial deposits
2. Treat the root surface to make it receptive to new tissue attachment
3. Place a membrane between the soft tissue and the bone pocket

The membrane acts as a physical barrier, preventing fast-growing soft tissue from filling the space before slower-growing bone has a chance to regenerate. Some membranes are bioresorbable — they dissolve on their own over time. Others are non-resorbable and require a minor second procedure to remove.

Bone graft material and biologics (such as growth factors or platelet-rich fibrin) may be added to the pocket to further support and accelerate regeneration.

Goals of Treatment

Guided regeneration is used to:

• Stabilize at-risk teeth — regenerating bone support around teeth that might otherwise require extraction
• Reduce pocket depths — making long-term maintenance more effective
• Prepare sites for implants — rebuilding bone volume in areas where implants will be placed
• Improve prognosis — converting teeth from a guarded prognosis to a maintainable one

What to Expect

Success with regenerative surgery depends significantly on the patient's commitment to postoperative care. Our dentists will provide detailed dietary and oral hygiene instructions, and will schedule close follow-up visits to monitor healing. Smoking greatly impairs regenerative outcomes and should be discontinued before and after surgery.

Not every patient or every pocket is a candidate for regeneration — the geometry of the bone defect and the overall health of the patient play important roles. During your consultation, our dentists will evaluate whether regenerative therapy is appropriate for your situation and what outcomes are realistic.

Learn about regeneration options →