Furcation involvement is the loss of gingival tissue below the normal gum line in a way that it exposes the root division of multi-rooted teeth. The molars are the teeth which suffer the most of furcation involvement and once the furcation area gets involved, saving the tooth is really difficult. The exposure of the root surface in such a manner also makes it a favourable area for bacteria to thrive, as the abnormal root shape makes cleaning harder.
The diagnosis to determine the level of furcation involvement is important. Dr. Sanz, periodontist here at Wilmington will take a detailed history, do a clinical assessment and with the help of radiographs, determine how far the furcation has progressed. Horizontal, vertical bone loss are the two parameters which help decide the line of treatment. Treatment of a furcation isn’t the most ideal, and often times the tooth is lost, however if the tooth can be saved potential treatment options to look at are:
Grade 1 furcations:
- Monitoring of oral hygiene is one of the most important steps as it helps rule out thepossibility of a lesion getting progressive after treatment. Strict follow-up is necessary.
- Debridement
- Manual elevation of the flap
- Odontoplasty
Grade 2 furcation:
– Guided tissue regeneration –
Grade 3 furcation:
- Root hemisection
- Root amputation
The costs involved with these procedures are high, considering how complicated they are.
Often times, extraction of the tooth is the most viable option, especially in teeth with periodontal disease which has progressed and make the prognosis of saving the tooth poor. Following extraction, implants may be placed by our Implantologist at Wilmington in place of the missing tooth.
To get your teeth evaluated and in case of furcation involvement, book an appointment with our specialist periodontologist at Wilmington to have your case assessed and derive the best treatment plan for you in order to give you a healthy and beautiful smile.
