Toggle navigation
Isaacson Gentle Dentistry
4700 White Bear Parkway White Bear Lake, MN 55110651-762-7677
  • blog
  • Facebook

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Our Staff
  • Our Office
  • Patient Reviews
  • Our Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • more
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Dental Implants
    • Educational Videos 1
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Smile Gallery
    • Isaacson Gentle Dentistry
    • Invisalign
    • Nitrous Oxide 1
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Teeth Whitening 1

Gum Grafting

Invisalign's® invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you're wearing them. Invisalign® is great for adults and teenagers.

What is Invisalign®?

  • Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.
  • Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets.
  • Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide.

How Does Invisalign® Work?

  • You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
  • As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the their final position.
  • You'll visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
  • Total treatment time averages 9 - 15 months and the average number of aligners during treatment is between 18 - 30, but both will vary from case to case.

How Are Aligners Made? You'd Be Amazed...

  • The aligners are made through a combination of our expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.

Here are some before and after pictures that we have provided to help you see what invisalign could do for your smile:

Before Invisalign Crowding:

After Invisalign crowding:

 

Before Invisalign Crowding:

After Invisalign Crowding:

 

Before Invisalign Open Bite:

After Invisalign Open Bite:

 

Before Invisalign smile:

After Invisalign smile:

 

Gum Grafting before and after.

If gum recession is affecting your health or your appearance, a procedure called gingival (gum) grafting may be recommended. Although it might sound scary, a variety of gum grafting procedures are routinely performed by periodontists (specialists in the area of gingival tissue), and by some general dentists with specialized training in this field.

Gum grafting involves carefully placing a small amount of new tissue in an area where little or no gum tissue currently exists — typically recommended to prevent further gum recession or to cover root surfaces of your teeth that have become exposed. The tissue used in this procedure may come from a variety of sources but usually is taken from the palate (roof of the mouth), after the area has been numbed for your comfort. Then it is delicately sutured (stitched) in place where it's needed, using suturing material which may be finer than a human hair.

Your body's natural recovery process takes over after the grafting procedure is complete. During this time, new blood vessels grow into the graft and help it to become integrated with the surrounding tissue. A successful graft can reduce or eliminate problems like tooth sensitivity and further gum recession, as well as improve the aesthetics of your smile.

How do you know if you need a gum graft? Often, you can clearly see or feel the problem. Exposed tooth roots can make your teeth look overly “long,” and they also generally appear somewhat darker than your pearly white crowns. Gum recession is a condition that can increase with age, as we recognize when we hear the phrase “long in the tooth.” But the potential problems of gum recession aren't just cosmetic — they can also seriously impact your oral health.

A Closer Look at Your Gums

Inside your mouth, gum tissue forms a barrier that resists the vigorous mechanical (and microbial) effects of eating, chewing and biting. Gums may begin to recede, or shrink down, for several reasons.

One is ineffective oral hygiene: This includes both inadequate brushing, which fails to remove dental plaque; and excessive brushing, which erodes the tissue. Foreign objects in the mouth that rub against the gums, like poorly fitting removable dentures, tongue bolts, or even fingernails, can also contribute to gum recession.

When the tooth's roots lose the protection of healthy gum tissue, they can become extremely sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, causing pain when you consume many foods and drinks. Worse, missing gum tissue makes it easier for bacteria to penetrate the roots and cause decay — or for minor trauma to result in rapid gum recession. In either case, the eventual result may be tooth loss. That's why proper treatment of gum recession is so important.

Treating Gum Recession With Gingival Grafting

After a thorough examination and assessment of your teeth, gums and overall health, the gingival grafting procedure may be recommended. The tissue used in this procedure may be obtained from a variety of sources: an area next to the area of recession, from the hard palate, or donated tissue from another person, which has been medically processed to make it safe to use.

There are several different methods of grafting. For example, if you have lost gum tissue in an area of your mouth that's not highly visible when you talk or smile, additional gum tissue can be placed there to prevent further recession without trying to cover the tooth-root surface completely. This procedure is referred to as a free gingival graft (since the tissue is separated from its blood supply), and it takes about 45 minutes to perform. It is very predictable with a very high success rate. If the objective is to cover root surfaces, the procedure becomes more complicated and will take longer, but is still very successful.

Grafting procedures are typically carried out under local anesthesia, and are generally pain-free. You should experience very little discomfort after the surgery, even if tissue has been removed from your palate, because that donor area is usually covered by a soothing, liquid band-aid-like material. Fortunately, any discomfort that you do have can be alleviated with over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory medication, and it is generally short-lived. A soft diet (and an antibiotic) may also be recommended for a week or so thereafter, enabling the tissues to heal fully; otherwise, your normal activities will not be limited.

Keeping Your Gums Healthy

Following a gum graft, it's more important than ever to practice good oral hygiene; this will help prevent gum problems from developing in the future. Your regimen should include proper brushing with fluoride toothpaste, daily flossing, a healthy diet and regular dental and periodontal checkups. Maintaining healthy gums is a key to keeping up your overall oral health — and preserving your smile.

Related Articles

Periodontal Plastic Surgery - Dear Doctor Magazine

Periodontal Plastic Surgery Millions of Americans have some degree of gum recession — a loss of the tough, pink tissue that surrounds teeth. Receding gums can cause anything from minor tooth sensitivity to tooth loss in very severe cases. Fortunately, the field of periodontal plastic surgery has made enormous strides in devising techniques, including grafting, to deal with the problem of lost or damaged gum tissue... Read Article

Periodontal Surgery - Dear Doctor Magazine

Periodontal Surgery — Where Art Meets Science This article is an overview of how the art of plastic surgical procedures and the science of periodontics can enhance the health and beauty of your teeth. You will learn what periodontal surgery is designed to do, what makes it successful and what to expect during treatment... Read Article

Periodontal (Gum) Disease - Dear Doctor Magazine

Understanding Gum (Periodontal) Disease Have your gums ever bled when you brushed or flossed? This most commonly overlooked simple sign may be the start of a silent progressive disease leading to tooth loss. Learn what you can do to prevent this problem and keep your teeth for life... Read Article


Patient Education

 
Patient Education Menu
  • Educational Videos
  • Cosmetic & General Dentistry
    • Cosmetic Tooth Bonding
    • Crowns & Bridgework
    • Fillings
    • Gummy Smiles
    • Inlays & Onlays
    • Mouthguards for Adults
    • Mouthguards for Children
    • Nitrous Oxide
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Removable Dentures
    • Smile Makeover
    • Snoring & Sleep Apnea
    • Teeth Whitening
    • TMD
    • Tooth-Colored Fillings
    • Tooth Contouring & Reshaping
    • Tooth Decay Prevention
    • Tooth Wear
  • Emergency Care
    • Gum Injuries
    • Orthodontic Emergencies
    • Tooth Pain
    • Traumatic Dental Injuries
  • Endodontics
    • Combined Root Canal & Gum Problems
    • Cracked Teeth
    • Root Canal Retreatment
    • Root Canal Surgery (Apicoectomy)
    • Root Canal Treatment
    • Root Canal Treatment FAQs
    • Root Canal Treatment for Children
    • Tooth Sensitivity
    • Whitening Traumatized Teeth
  • Implant Dentistry
    • Bone Grafting
    • Dental Implants FAQs
    • Fixed Dentures
    • Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth
    • Top Reasons to Choose Dental Implants
  • Oral Health
    • Aging & Dental Health
    • Antibiotic Premedicationfor Dental Treatments
    • Bad Breath
    • Blood Pressure Medications & Your Gums
    • Diabetes & Oral Health
    • Dry Mouth
    • Eating Disorders & Oral Health
    • Fluoride
    • Geographic Tongue
    • Missing Teeth
    • Nutrition & Oral Health
    • Oral Cancer
    • Oral Piercings
    • Osteoporosis & Oral Health
    • Pregnancy, Hormones & Oral Health
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Professional Teeth Cleanings
    • Stress & Oral Habits
  • Oral Hygiene
    • How To Brush
    • How To Floss
    • Interdental Cleaning Devices
    • Mouthrinses
    • Oral Hygiene for Kids
    • Tips to Prevent Cavities
    • Toothpaste
  • Oral Surgery
    • Blood Thinners & Dental Procedures
    • Bone Grafting
    • Cleft Lip & Palate Repair
    • Corrective Jaw (Orthognathic) Surgery
    • Extractions
    • Facial Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery
    • Headaches & Migraines
    • Oral Cancer Screening
    • Oral Diagnosis and Biopsies
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • Sinus Surgery
    • Wisdom Teeth
  • Orthodontics
    • Early Orthodontic Treatment
    • Invisalign for Adults
    • Invisalign for Teens
  • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Age One Dental Visit
    • Fluoride & Your Child
    • Nitrous Oxide for Children
    • Pregnancy & Your Child's Developing Teeth
    • Sealants
    • Sleep Apnea & Behavior Problems in Children
    • Space Maintainers
    • Teething
    • Thumb Sucking
  • Periodontal Therapy
    • Cosmetic Gum Surgery
    • Gum Grafting
    • Loose Teeth & Bite Problems
    • Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment
    • Oral Systemic Connection
    • Periodontal (Gum) Disease
    • Periodontal Flap Surgery
    • Professional Teeth Cleanings
    • Ultrasonic Cleanings
  • Technology
    • Digital Dental Impressions
    • Digital X-Rays
    • Intra-Oral Camera

4700 White Bear Parkway
White Bear Lake, MN 55110

651-762-7677 Call or Text
(651) 762-1861 Fax

[email protected]

IsaacsonGentleDentistry on Facebook and Instagram

 

                                                              COVID-19 Office Update

Carefully following guidance from the State of Minnesota, Isaacson Gentle Dentistry is open. Our primary concern is the health and safety of our patients and the team.  Because of COVID-19, we have made many changes to protect you.  We will be screening you for any sickness or COVID-19 symptoms prior to your appointment by phone and at your appointment. Please cancel your appointment with us as early as possible if you have any COVID-19 symptoms (fever, dry cough, loss of taste, nausea, etc). When you arrive at our office, we will have you wait in your car in our parking lot instead of our waiting room.  Upon welcoming you into our office, we will take your temperature.  We have windows in our office, which will be open, we have HEPA air filtration, and we are limiting the number of patients and team members in our office. We have the recommended PPE’s and are following the American Dental Association, OSHA, CDC, and State of Minnesota guidelines for protecting you and our team.

 

 

Facebook | White Bear Lake, MN DentistInvisalign White Bear Lake American Dental Association | White Bear Lake Cosmetic DentistryMinnesota Dental Association | Emergency Dentist White Bear LakeEducational Videos | Cosmetic Dentistry White Bear Lake

Google Reviews Dentist White Bear Lake, MNPatient Reviews | White Bear Lake Dental Implants

                                                                             

 

Our Location

4700 White Bear Parkway
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-762-7677

Map & directions

Office Hours
Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: By Appointment
Sunday: Closed
  • Home
  • Our Staff
  • Our Office
  • Patient Reviews
  • OurServices
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Dental Web Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map
White Bear Lake, MN Dentist
Isaacson Gentle Dentistry
4700 White Bear Parkway
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
(651) 762-7677
(651) 762-1861 Fax