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What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection that occurs when dental plaque builds up on your teeth and gums. The plaque contains bacteria that infect and inflame your gums. The early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis.
Gingivitis
Initially, the symptoms of early gum disease are mild and may include swollen, red gums that feel tender. It can cause your gums to bleed when you brush and floss.
Gingivitis is easily treatable with a professional dental cleaning, but without proper care, it can develop into periodontitis or severe gum disease.
Periodontitis
When gingivitis develops into periodontitis, the inflammation and infection spread from your gums to the tissues supporting your teeth, including your jawbone and periodontal ligaments, which are stretchy pieces of tissue holding your teeth in the sockets.
Advanced or severe gum disease is a more serious condition that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss and negatively impact overall health. Severe periodontal disease has been linked to serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
If you are diagnosed with moderate to advanced periodontal disease, osseous gum surgery may be part of your customized treatment plan.
What is Osseous Surgery?
Osseous surgery is used to treat moderate to severe periodontal disease, and when gums have started to recede. It aims to remove bacteria and create healthier conditions, allowing the gums to heal and reattach to the teeth.
Why is Osseous Surgery Needed?
Mild or moderate periodontal disease causes the gums to recede, creating pockets between the gums and teeth. These pockets are called periodontal pockets.
Periodontal pockets can become quite deep, trapping plaque and bacteria, and are difficult to keep clean. Consequently, periodontal disease will gradually worsen without treatment.
We may recommend this treatment if you have deep periodontal pockets and are already experiencing bone loss around your teeth.
Two types of osseous surgery may be recommended.
Traditional Osseous Surgery
During this treatment, our periodontist will make small incisions to expose your tooth roots, a procedure known as osseous flap surgery. The bone around your teeth is reshaped, helping to eliminate deep periodontal pockets harbouring harmful bacteria. The gums are then repositioned and stitched back into place.
Laser Osseous Surgery
This treatment uses laser dentistry to eliminate harmful bacteria, cleaning out deep periodontal pockets while saving healthy tissue. No incisions or stitches are required. NYC Dentistry Center has several of the most advanced dental lasers available, capable of treating hard and soft tissues. Our periodontists are trained in providing LANAP laser gum therapy, a minimally invasive and highly effective treatment that helps regenerate tissues.
Laser therapy is extremely gentle, as the laser’s energy sterilizes the treated areas while minimizing side effects like bleeding and swelling. Afterward, healing is quicker, smoother, and more comfortable.
If you are diagnosed with severe periodontal disease, we may use a combination of both treatments to gain optimal results, as well as scaling and root planing.
Osseous Surgery Versus Deep Cleaning
Osseous surgery differs significantly from nonsurgical treatments, such as scaling and root planing, by providing a deeper clean and facilitating better healing afterward.
The procedure helps to save natural teeth, prevent the progression of gum disease, and restore oral health. It is recommended for more advanced gum disease, and when the jawbone is affected.
Signs You May Need Osseous Surgery
Signs that you may need this procedure include:
- Bleeding gums when you brush or floss, or at other times.
- Chronic halitosis (bad breath).
- Discomfort or pain while chewing.
- Loose teeth or changes to your bite.
- Deep periodontal pockets diagnosed during your checkup or hygiene appointment.
Benefits of Osseous Gum Surgery
Osseous surgery is very beneficial and can:
- Reduce the size and depth of periodontal pockets around your teeth, encouraging them to fit more snugly.
- Prevents further jawbone loss and tooth loss.
- Making it harder for plaque bacteria to attach to tooth roots.
- Reduce the number of harmful bacteria.
- Improve your overall dental health.
- Protect your general health.
- Daily oral care is easier.
The Osseous Surgery Procedure Step-By-Step
Step One: Consultation & Dental and Medical Health Review
You will need an initial dental exam with our periodontist, Dr. Navid Rahmani, or with another of our skilled and experienced periodontists. Dr. Rahmani will gently examine your mouth and may use a periodontal probe to assess the depth of any periodontal pockets. He may wish to conduct additional diagnostic tests, including digital dental X-rays, to assess any damage to your jawbone.
A review of your dental and medical health is necessary to ensure any treatment recommended is safe and appropriate. For example, some prescription medications can affect oral surgery procedures.
Step Two: Preparing for Surgery
You will be given precise instructions on how to prepare for osseous surgery, including any advice on when to discontinue taking certain medications, such as blood thinners.
It’s a good idea to have a good meal beforehand, as your gums may feel tender afterward.
If you undergo sedation dentistry, you will need a trusted friend or relative to accompany you home after your appointment.
Quit smoking and avoid drinking alcohol at least 24 hours before surgery and after treatment.
Step Three: Osseous Gum Surgery
We will ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed, and can provide sedation dentistry and anaesthesia to numb your gums. Once you are ready, a small incision is made in your gums, allowing them to be folded back and exposing your tooth roots.
The exposed tooth roots are cleaned thoroughly, eliminating dental plaque and bacteria. The bone around your teeth is then smoothed and reshaped to remove rough, damaged areas, making it easier for your gums to reattach.
If necessary, at this point, we may place dental bone grafts and membranes to help regenerate bone before your gums are repositioned and the incisions are closed with stitches.
Step Four: Healing & Recovery
Before you leave our dental office, we will provide you with clear instructions on how to care for your mouth. Please follow them closely as they will help you heal more quickly. Some tips to follow include:
- Take all medications as directed and complete any course of antibiotics provided.
- Use antibacterial mouthwash to help keep your mouth clean.
- Eat soft foods requiring minimal chewing like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. We can provide a comprehensive list of foods to eat during the healing process.
- Please don’t use a drinking straw for at least a week after osseous surgery.
You may experience some minor side effects, including soreness, bleeding, swelling, and bruising. These are perfectly normal and should improve after a few days. Initial healing should be well underway within 1 to 2 weeks.
As always, we are available to address any questions or concerns you may have, so please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Risks of Osseous Surgery
Any surgical procedure has a small level of risk, which includes:
- Infection.
- Gum recession.
- Excessive bleeding.
- Tooth sensitivity.
Complications are rare, and generally the benefits far outweigh the risks.
FAQs
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Will Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Osseous Surgery?
Almost certainly, because it is an essential treatment to help restore oral health and prevent tooth loss.
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How Will I Know If I Need This Procedure?
Gum disease symptoms are easy to miss in the early stages, which is why we recommend regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments. These visits enable us to closely monitor your gum health and detect any changes more quickly.
If you are concerned about your gum health and it’s been a while since you last visited a dentist, schedule an appointment with us. We can soon identify any signs of gum disease and provide a suitable treatment plan.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th Street, 8th Floor, Suite 2
New York, NY 10017
(212) 810-9264