dental venue - Periodontal Surgery

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Periodontal Surgery

related: cleanings

	Gingiva is the dental term for your gums. Gingivectomy refers to the removal of gum tissue (ectomy = removal, or to cut), while the term gingivoplasty deals with the esthetic recontouring of gum tissue around your teeth. When teeth appear too short, small, or wide, these two procedures are treatment options. Once the tissue has healed, your smile should display a more esthetic proportion of tooth dimension to gum tissue.
Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty
	In cases of advanced or severe periodontal disease (gum disease), when non- surgical methods such a scaling and root planning have been unsuccessful, your dentist may perform a gingivectomy or periodontal flap surgery.
Procedure
	In this procedure, your dentist will reshape the unhealthy gum tissue in order to reduce periodontal pocket size. Once a pocket has reached a depth of over 3 mm it is no longer hygienically maintainable (with brushing and flossing). By removing some of the gum tissue, your dentist will reduce these pockets down to a maintainable depth. As a result, the bacteria will no longer have a suitable environment in which to grow, and your gums will hopefully return to a state of health.

Flap Surgery

In advanced periodontal disease, when scaling and root planning have proved unsuccessful in reducing pocket depth, or when bone and attachment loss dictates surgical correction, periodontal flap surgery may be indicated.

Procedure

Flap surgery is performed under local anesthesia; small incisions are made in the gum, to provide your dentist with visual access to the tooth and bone. All affected surfaces can be visualized and effectively cleaned. Periodontal disease causes bone loss, thus the surrounding alveolar bone may require recontouring to ensure proper healing. Sutures are placed, completing the procedure. Typically, the procedure requires between 1 to 2 hours. Only one or two quadrants are usually performed per visit (there are four quadrants of teeth in the mouth). Your sutures will remain in place for approximately one week. Pain medication and antibiotics are usually prescribed.

Note: It is important to note that before beginning any course of treatment you should see your dentist. Please note that without the benefit of a full dental examination, including a review of medical history, dental x-rays, and diagnostic aids, no attempt can be made to provide specific diagnosis or recommended courses of treatment. However, we will be happy to update our site to include topics you feel deserve mention. contact us