Gum Surgery
SURGICAL APPROACHES TO GUM PROBLEMS
Periodontal surgery may be necessary when we determine that the tissue around your teeth are unhealthy and cannot be repaired with non-surgical treatment, such as scaling and root planing. There are 3 types of surgical treatments most commonly prescribed in our Comfort Dental location in Southfield, MI:
- Gingival Flap surgery
- Gingivectomy
- Crown Lengthening
Gingival Flap Surgery
In most patients, the nonsurgical procedure of scaling and root planing is all that is needed to treat gum diseases. However, surgery may be required when the tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and cannot be repaired with nonsurgical options.
Your bone and gum tissue fit snugly around your teeth, sort of like a turtleneck around your neck. When you have periodontal disease, the supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming "pockets" around the teeth.
Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to live. The bacteria set off a focal point of infection resulting in bone and tissue loss. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will need to be extracted.
Reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria are the basic reasons for any gum disease treatment. However, eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Because deeper pockets are more difficult to clean, scaling alone may not be able to correct these advanced problems.
Gingival flap surgery can be done along with scaling and root planning, or it may be recommended as a separate procedure, normally 3 months after scaling is completed. We always strive to complete all periodontal treatments in the fewest number of visits possible. For the majority of our patients, we will complete scaling and root planning, and flap surgery all in one visit. This avoids additional treatment and costs down the road and it normally does not decrease the outcome of care.
 |
The gum is lifted from the tooth so the diseased tissue can be removed.
The bone may also be reshaped.
After surgery, the gum is repositioned and often sutured in place.
|
First, we remove all plaque and tartar (calculus) from around your teeth by scaling and root planning. Then, we separate the gums away from the teeth in order to allow us to reach the root of the tooth and the bone. We continue to remove any remaining tartar from the root surfaces and then we perform osseous recontouring, a procedure which smoothes the edges of the bone. Files or rotating burs are normally used to smooth the bone and provide the optimal architecture which is required to fit the bone, gums, and teeth back into harmony. After these procedures are completed, the gums will be placed back against the teeth and anchored in place using stitches. Antibiotic gels or surgical packs may also be used to decrease discomfort and eliminate the infection more rapidly. Antibiotics may be recommended for an extended period of time in order to effectively eradicate all remaining areas of infections in your jaw bones.
Gingivectomy
A less intrusive method of correcting pocket depths is done via reduction of excess gum tissue, without opening the gums. Gingivectomy can also be used to lay the groundwork for restorative and cosmetic dentistry and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line.
Crown Lengthening
A sub-division of gingival flap procedures and it is normally done on 1 or 2 teeth to expose a natural, broad smile. During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. We may also recommend crown lengthening to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible. Perhaps your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient tooth structure for a restoration, such as a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so we can restore it properly.
Periodonditis Needs
Dr. John Halmaghi and board certified periodontology specialist, Dr. George Bandelac, are available at Comfort Dental to diagnose and treat virtually any condition. If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule a consultation at Comfort Dental in Southfield, Michigan, call 248-646-2273.
|
