Gum Surgery
Gum surgery may be required for severe periodontal disease when infection cannot be treated with antibiotics or root planing and scaling. Types of gum surgery include:
- Gingivectomy: A gingivectomy is a procedure that is designed to remove and reshape gums that have become diseased. This technique also allows our periodontist to remove pockets of infection in between teeth.
- Flap surgery: A flap surgery enables our periodontist to remove buildup from roots of teeth in addition to performing any necessary repairs to damaged bone structure.
- Tooth removal: Untreated gum disease leads to severely damaged teeth which may require removal by our periodontist.
Extensively damaged gum tissue may also be repaired with the following procedures:
- Gum grafting procedures helps restore gum line back to its original state. Harvested tissue will then be intricately placed directly onto the compromised site.
- Guided tissue regeneration is a procedure in which a special lining is placed in between the bone and gum tissue. The lining is designed to help bone redevelop and facilitates gum tissue reattachment.
In order for gum surgery to be successful the following is recommended:
- Practice good oral hygiene by brushing twice a day in addition to flossing daily.
- Visit our periodontist for routine examinations. Patients with gum disease should schedule a routine office visit every 3 to 4 months for follow-up dental care.
- Avoiding the use of tobacco is highly recommended since the use of tobacco decreases your ability to ward off infection in addition to delaying the healing process.
Since gum surgery can introduce harmful bacteria into your bloodstream, antibiotics may be necessary pre and post gum surgery if you have a systemic condition which may put you at risk. Patients who may require antibiotics include those who have heart problems, individuals with impaired immune systems, and patients who had major surgery recently or those who have artificial body parts such as artificial hip or heart valves.
