Suite 603, 8 Elsie Street, Burwood NSW 213402 8188 6688
EN中文For dentists →
Gum & Dental Specialist Centre — Regenerate for good

Periodontal regeneration

Regenerative surgery

Most gum treatment stops bone loss. Regenerative surgery goes a step further: it aims to regrow some of the bone and attachment that gum disease has destroyed, to help keep a tooth that is at risk.

Told a tooth can't be saved?

Sometimes regeneration can keep it; sometimes an implant is the better choice. A specialist assessment tells you which, and why.

Treatment room with dental chair and intraoral X-ray

Who it can help

Regeneration works best where bone has been lost in a deep, narrow pocket beside a tooth, rather than evenly across several teeth. It may suit:

  • Deep bone defects next to a tooth, seen on X-ray or 3D scan
  • Some bone loss between the roots of molars
  • Teeth that are otherwise worth keeping — good roots and a useful role in your bite

What makes it work

Disease under control

Gum inflammation is treated before surgery.

Excellent home care

Healing depends on keeping the area very clean.

Not smoking

Smoking significantly reduces healing.

Stable general health

For example, well-controlled diabetes.

What we use

Depending on the shape of the defect, we may use one or more of: a biologic gel applied to the cleaned root surface to support new attachment, bone graft material to fill and support the space, and a protective membrane that keeps gum tissue out while bone heals. We explain which materials are planned for you, and why, before surgery.

A biologic gel being applied to the cleaned root surface in a bone defect
A biologic gel is applied to the cleaned root surface to support new attachment.

The steps

  1. 01

    Initial gum treatment

    Deep cleaning and a review, so surgery starts from healthy, stable gums.

  2. 02

    Planning

    X-rays, and a 3D scan where helpful, to map the defect and choose the approach.

  3. 03

    Surgery

    Under local anaesthetic, the gum is lifted, the root and defect are thoroughly cleaned, the regenerative materials are placed and the gum is closed with fine stitches.

  4. 04

    Healing

    Stitches come out after one to two weeks. New bone matures slowly, so we review with X-rays over the following months.

  5. 05

    Maintenance

    Regular supportive care protects the result long term.

Four stages of regenerative periodontal surgery: probing, debridement, bone regeneration and healing
Probing the pocket, cleaning the root and defect, placing regenerative material, and healing.

Realistic expectations

Regeneration typically rebuilds part, not all, of the lost support. The aims are shallower pockets that are easier to keep clean and a better long-term outlook for the tooth. Results vary between people and sites, and we'll tell you what is realistic for yours.

Common questions

Can it tighten a loose tooth?

Sometimes, if the looseness is due to bone loss that can be partly rebuilt. Looseness can also come from bite forces, which may need managing separately.

Is regeneration better than an implant?

Where a tooth has a reasonable outlook, keeping it is usually preferable. Where it doesn't, an implant may be more predictable. We'll go through both honestly.

I smoke. Can I still have it?

Smoking lowers the chance of success. We'll talk through options, including support to stop before surgery.