2 Common Gum Diseases That Need Surgery

Posted by San Marcos Dental Arts on October 9th, 2019

The periodontal surgery which is performed to treat certain gum diseases and conditions, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, is commonly called Gum Disease Surgery. 

 Its procedure primarily aims to treat gum disease and any damage it may have caused in various ways, for instance:

• Re-growth of damaged bones and tissues
• Prevention of tooth loss
• Reduction of the gum gaps between teeth (known as black triangles) 
• Reshaping jaw bone to reduce the risk of bacterial growth in the crevices
• Elimination of bacteria and infection

 This article covers the conditions which can be treated with gum disease surgery and how much recovery time they need. 

 Conditions Treated by Gum Disease Surgery

Gum diseases such as Gingivitis and Periodontitis often require surgical treatment. 

 1. Gingivitis

It is a mild gum disease that can cause redness, swelling, and bleeding in the gums. It is mainly caused by poor oral hygiene, plaque, and tartar buildup. However, once patients get professional treatment, the condition can be reversed. 

 2. Periodontitis

It can be referred to as a more severe form of gum disease in which gingivitis gets worse and leads to an inflammatory response that damages and destroys bones and tissues. In the phase of inflammation, the gums begin to separate from the teeth which further leads to the development of spaces called pockets. 

 These pockets, in turn, trap the bacteria and give birth to infection that results in tooth loss and bone damage. 

 Types of Surgical Procedures 

 The kind ofgum disease surgery a dentist performs on a patient depends on the type and severity of gum disease. Before surgery, the gums are deep cleaned by deep scaling and root planning to remove tartar and bacteria from teeth, roots, and gums. 

 Following are the different types of gum disease surgery:

• Flap Surgery - for patients who have tartar deposits in deep pockets. 
• Bone Grafting - when bone surrounding the tooth root is damaged or destroyed
• Guided Tissue Regeneration - to prevent gum from growing into space where bone should be.
• Tissue Grafting - to treat gum line recession caused by loss of gum tissues

 Time Needed to Recover from Gum Disease Surgery

 After performing any dental procedure and gum disease surgery, a dentist provides detailed instructions on how to best recover from surgery. The times for recovery depend on the extent of the procedure performed. 

 Generally, patients require pain relief medications after gum surgery. Apart from medications, dentists may also advise:

• To use an antiseptic mouthwash to keep the area clean and avoid infection
• To avoid arduous exercise
• To eat soft foods and drink more liquids in the days following surgery
• To stop smoking

 Besides, dentists schedule appointments for patients who receive gum disease surgery to return and visit the dental clinic for one to two weeks. Such visits are necessary to assess how the gums are healing and if required, remove any stitches. 

 After a surgical procedure, a person’s gums appear and feel different. Over time, the gums and teeth get healed, tightened, and become stronger and firmer. Some patients may have tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures and may find relief by using desensitizing toothpaste. The dentist may also discuss a follow-up schedule to maintain good oral health in the future.