Periodontics and Implant Dentistry of San Antonio’s oral surgeons are highly skilled and mastered surgeons when it comes to tissue and bone grafts. Depending on the severity of your periodontal disease, tissue and/or bone grafts may be necessary to correct the damaging effects of gum recession. Gum recession occurs when the tissue that surrounds the teeth begins to pull away from the tooth, exposing more of the tooth. This process can also lead to bone damage. Advanced gum disease affects 4% to 12% of adults and unfortunately often goes unnoticed until the problem is severe.

Types of Tissue Grafts Performed Include:

• Connective Tissue Grafts:  This method is most commonly used in the treatment of root exposure. Tissue is taken from underneath a flap of skin in the roof of your mouth that was surgically cut by your surgeon, and then grafted to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root.
• Free Gingival Grafts:  This method also involves using tissue from the roof of your mouth, only there is no flap involved. Instead, a small amount of tissue is taken directly from the roof of your mouth and then grafted to the area being treated.
• Pedicle Grafts:  This procedure is entirely different than the other two procedures, in that instead of taking tissue from the roof of your mouth, the tissue is taken directly from the gum in the area of the tooth being repaired and treated. This procedure can only be performed on people with the least amount of gum loss.

Please note that tissue grafting material can also be obtained from a tissue bank, if the patient prefers.

Bone Grafting Facts:

• Bone grafting is also known as bone augmentation.
• Grafting is necessary to build up the jaw bone in order for it to support the dental implant and is necessary when tooth loss is caused by periodontal disease, infection, injury or trauma, or a developmental defect.
• Common bone augmentation procedures include bone grafting, a sinus lift, a ridge expansion, and a less commonly performed procedure is called distraction osteogenesis.
• Bone grafting has a high success rate. Bone grafts are not rejected by the body like with organ transplants, but there is a small chance that the graft can fail. A failed graft can be removed, but the chances of failure are slim.
• This procedure can be done right within the comfort of the office and is typically performed under local anesthesia.
• Bone grafting is a procedure that is typically performed when a patient has lost a tooth, in order to replace the lost tooth with a dental implant. The bone used for the grafting procedure can be removed from your own body or the oral surgeon can use bone made from human cadavers or cows.

Periodontics and Implant Dentistry of San Antonio offers the use of pharmacological agents (sedatives) to relax and calm our patients both prior to and during a procedure. Sedatives can be taken orally or given through an IV to the patient prior to any procedure. Sedation therapy is also referred to as conscious sedation, because the patient is fully alert, but calm and relaxed before and during a procedure.

Benefits of Sedation Include:

• To relax and calm the patient.
• The patient will have little or no memory of treatment.
• Movement control.
• Creates a safe and comfortable experience for the patient.

Brandon Sehlke, D.D.S., M.S. is a South Texas native and received his bachelor of science degree from Texas Lutheran University. He then graduated as Valedictorian from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Dental School, receiving his Doctorate of Dental Surgery, followed by specialty training in Periodontics.

Dr.  Sehlke is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology; Board Certified in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery.

Dr. Sehlke was the recipient of multiple honors while attending UTHSCSA including an Award for Excellence in Clinical Dentistry, Clinical Award for Excellence in Removable Prosthodontics, A.A.P. Dental Student Award for Achievement in Periodontology, and was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon –– the National Dental Honor Fraternity. Dr. Sehlke was also selected as one of the country’s three finalists for the prestigious Dr. and Mrs. Gerald M. Kramer Scholarship for Excellence Award sponsored by the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation.

His professional memberships include: American Academy of Periodontology, Southwest Society of Periodontists, Texas Society of Periodontists, American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and the San Antonio District Dental Society.

Dr. Sehlke and his wife, Jennifer, have triplets and reside in the San Antonio area.

Dr. Kelsey Edmondson is a native of Houston, TX and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Human Biology. She then attended The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston where she received her Doctorate in Dental Surgery. After graduation from dental school, Dr. Edmondson completed three years of post-graduate surgical training and received her Masters in Periodontics from The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. During her time at UT Houston, she completed research pertaining to implants in the esthetic zone. Dr. Edmondson received the American Academy of Periodontics Dental Student Award for outstanding achievement in Periodontics.

Dr. Edmondson is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology; Board Certified in Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery.

Dr. Edmondson’s professional affiliations include the American Academy of Periodontology, the Academy of Osseointegration, Southwest Society of Periodontists, the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the San Antonio District Dental Society. Her special interests include esthetic periodontology and the treatment of peri-implantitis. Dr. Edmondson enjoys educating patients to help them make informed decisions about their oral health.

Dr. Edmondson and her husband, Stephen Countryman, reside in central San Antonio with their two dachshunds. In her free time, her interests outside of dentistry include gardening, hiking, and wildlife conservation.