Your dentist may recommend that gum surgery be carried out, especially if you are suffering from a periodontal complaint. In some cases, dentists refer patients who need this sort of work to a specialist, known as a periodontist. Either way, the cause of periodontal complaints is usually down to bacteria present in the mouth. These bacteria can build up under the right conditions and cause problems for your gums.
A low level of gum disease, or gingivitis, can often be dealt with by nothing more invasive than daily flossing, better brushing and rinsing your mouth out with an anti-bacterial agent. Only when these measures have failed and you have developed a more serious condition will surgery be considered. If so, there are three ways forward. What are they and what can you expect?
Gingival Flap Procedures
If the parts of your gums which attach to the bottom of your teeth have become sufficiently inflamed, then small pockets may develop, which means your teeth begin to feel loose. In order to save them, a surgeon will need to make a cut into your gum tissue to fully separate the infected area from the base of the tooth in question. A thorough clean-out of the infected part of the gum is then conducted, sometimes using ultrasonic techniques. Tartar and plaque can be removed using this procedure, which would not otherwise be reached. The flaps of gum can then be put back in place to recover.
Gingivectomies
This is a straightforward surgical procedure which is designed to remove a section of gum completely. It is often recommended as the best way forward for patients who have large gums which overlap too much of the nearby teeth. In such cases, periodontal disease may ensue because it is hard to brush away bacteria from the tooth. To make it easier to do so, the surgeon simply cuts away the excess gum tissue to reveal more tooth enamel below.
Gingivoplasty Surgery
The third type of gum surgery you might face reshapes your gum tissue. So-called gingivoplasty has a reputation for merely being a cosmetic procedure. However, this is not the case. By removing a section of gum, it becomes easier for a patient to clean any pockets in their mouth where bacteria might otherwise build up. It also means that healthy tissue can be sewn in place at a location of gum-tissue damage elsewhere in the mouth, helping to restore an infected area.
Share