Gum Grafts, Crown Lengthening & Surgical Dentistry in Memphis & Southaven

A procedure that covers exposed tooth roots with new gum tissue to reduce sensitivity and stop further recession.

If the jawbone has shrunk where a tooth was lost, a bone graft rebuilds it so the implant is stable.

A minor surgical procedure in which the tip of the tooth root is cut away and the end sealed. The name comes from apico, meaning apex or end, and ectomy, meaning removal. It is done through the gum rather than through the top of the tooth.

Because infection has persisted after root canal treatment, which means the conventional approach has not been sufficient. It is also the option when a crown or bridge on the tooth makes retreatment through the top impractical, or when a retreatment has already been attempted without success.

A root canal treats the tooth itself, cleaning the canals from the inside downward. An apicoectomy addresses the root tip, reaching it through the gum from outside. Different target, different route, which is why it can help when the first approach did not resolve the infection.

Typically 30 to 90 minutes. Most patients resume normal activities the next day, with pain and swelling decreasing steadily after that. Ibuprofen usually manages the discomfort, we may prescribe antibiotics, and stitches come out within a week. Brush carefully near the site while it heals. The bone underneath keeps filling in for months.

Published success rates for this procedure vary across an enormous range, and that spread reflects the surgeon and the technology far more than it reflects the patient. Outcome depends on the diagnosis, tooth anatomy, cracks, previous treatment, periodontal support, restorative condition and surgical findings. Rather than quote a single number, we discuss the prognosis for your particular tooth, including telling you when extraction is the better bet.

The sealing materials used, whether you want sedation, and how extensive the defect is. Dental or medical insurance may cover part of it, and we will help you verify that with your provider before you commit.

Ankyloglossia, a congenital condition in which a short, thick or tight band of tissue, the lingual frenulum, tethers the tip of the tongue to the floor of the mouth and limits its range of motion. It happens when the frenulum fails to separate from the tongue before birth, and it is usually genetic. It can interfere with breastfeeding and bottle feeding, and it can affect how a child eats, speaks and swallows. It is normally an isolated condition, though occasionally it appears alongside other syndromes.

No, and experts genuinely disagree about this. Some doctors and lactation consultants advise releasing a tie as early as possible, even before a newborn leaves the hospital; others prefer to wait and observe. In many cases the frenulum gradually softens on its own. A lactation consultant can often improve breastfeeding without surgery, and a speech-language pathologist can help with speech sounds. If that is your situation, we will say so.

The release takes about 10 to 15 seconds. Research and our own experience put the fussiness at roughly the level of a routine vaccination, and modern laser technique keeps it there. Bleeding is usually a drop or two, and there is no general anaesthetic involved.

Yes, but if the release is happening at that same visit, wait until afterwards. Feeding immediately beforehand risks regurgitation and aspiration of milk. You can feed straight after the procedure, and we encourage it.

We ask parents to wait in reception for the release itself. It lets the doctor focus entirely on the procedure, which is what keeps it as quick as it is, and your baby wears protective eyewear throughout. Our staff bring you through the moment it is finished so you can comfort and feed straight away. A lot of mothers notice the difference in that first feed.

Some babies sleep more than usual, feed in shorter and more frequent sessions, and drool more for a while. As the soreness fades the tongue adjusts and the latch usually improves. It may need time, or therapy, to strengthen the oral musculature. A little bleeding during the stretching exercises we teach you is normal, and the drooling settles as the wound heals.

A frenotomy divides the frenulum with sterile scissors: quick, minimal bleeding, feeding straight afterwards. A frenuloplasty is the more invasive option when the frenum is too thick for that: surgical instruments under general anaesthesia, closed with self-absorbing sutures, with tongue exercises afterwards to improve movement and reduce scarring. A laser release vaporises the tissue with light energy instead of cutting it, which can mean little to no bleeding, usually no sutures, often no general anaesthetic, faster healing in many cases, and a low chance of reattachment. The right technique depends on age, anatomy and the specific case.

It combines a stream of water with laser-generated energy, which is what lets it safely and accurately remove tooth decay, reshape bone and re-contour gum tissue. For a frenectomy it means the tissue is vaporised rather than cut. The laser also sterilises on contact, reducing infection risk, and promotes bio-regeneration so the site heals faster.

It has been associated with breathing problems during sleep, including obstructive sleep apnoea; with TMD and TMJ jaw joint pain; with back, neck and shoulder pain; and with migraines or chronic headaches. Because this practice treats TMJ as well, it is a link we encounter regularly rather than one we read about.

There is very little training on tongue and lip ties in medical, dental, nursing or other health-related schools: clinicians who treat tissue ties have to go and seek that education out separately. Dr. Adatrow has pursued additional training in the surgical treatment of oral tissues for more than 30 years, with consistently strong outcomes reported for these procedures. If feeding is not working and nobody has looked, it is worth having looked at.

Many dental plans do not cover it, because tongue-tie is classified as a congenital medical condition rather than a dental one. Medical insurance frequently does cover both the consultation and the procedure for that same reason. We provide a health insurance claim form to submit, and most families receive some form of reimbursement, though we are not in-network with health insurers. Payment is due at the time of service and we discuss every fee before treatment begins.

The anatomy itself is real and has been documented since ancient times, so it is not a fad. But not every visible or tight-appearing frenum requires surgery. Careful diagnosis matters, because feeding, speech, pain and oral-function concerns can have multiple causes.

A surgical procedure, typically under local anaesthesia, that removes or loosens the bands of tissue attached in the mouth to improve tongue movement, or to reduce the gap between the upper front teeth. Depending on the case it can be done with a scalpel, with surgical scissors, with electrosurgery, with a cauterising device, with a laser, or a combination. It usually takes 15 minutes or less.

A frenum, or frenulum, is a small ridge or fold of tissue that anchors a semi-mobile part of the body. In the mouth there are three: the lingual frenum under the tongue, the labial frenum connecting the lips to the gum, and the buccal frenum connecting the gums to the inside of the cheeks.

When the lingual frenum is too long or too tight and is affecting tongue function, or when a large maxillary labial frenum attached close to the teeth is creating a gap between the front teeth. It is also recommended where a thick frenum is compromising chewing efficiency or oral hygiene.

Where a thick labial frenum is what holds the diastema open, releasing it removes the force pulling the teeth apart. Whether the gap then closes on its own or needs orthodontic help depends on how wide it is and how long it has been there. Worth knowing: spacing can also come from small teeth or a large jaw rather than the frenum, so we check which before recommending anything.

It can help in selected cases when a frenum interferes with the denture border or seal. Denture stability also depends on ridge anatomy, fit, occlusion, saliva and other factors, so a frenectomy alone does not guarantee a perfect fit.

Most people are. The exceptions are patients with severe periodontal disease or serious general health complications, where those need treating first. Dr. Adatrow evaluates your oral and medical health and recommends the approach that suits your case.

We review your medical history and X-rays to assess the condition of the teeth and bone, and you tell us every medication you currently take, since some of them mean adjusting the plan, and we would rather know beforehand.

A conventional frenectomy excises the tight frenulum with surgical scissors and is quick, well established, and effective, typically requiring local anaesthetic. A laser frenectomy can offer less bleeding, a lower risk of post-surgical infection, and sometimes no need for sutures or local anaesthetic, depending on the case. Conventional instruments can also give excellent results, so we choose the technique based on age, anatomy, tissue thickness, treatment objective, operator experience, and whether suturing or tissue repositioning is needed.

Yes, when appropriate. The level of comfort management depends on age, the specific procedure, medical history, anxiety and safety considerations, and we discuss options at the consultation before anything is booked.

Constantly. Patients travel to us from Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett and Cordova in Tennessee; from Olive Branch, Hernando, Horn Lake, Batesville, Senatobia, Holly Springs and Clarksdale in Mississippi; and from West Memphis, Marion, Forrest City and Brinkley in Arkansas, across DeSoto, Shelby, Tunica, Marshall and Tate counties.