What does periodontal surgery entail

You may have noticed your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth. This can seem like an alarming development, and in some cases it certainly may be. When tartar is left on the teeth due to inadequate dental care, bacteria are provided with an environment in which they can thrive and cause other problems, such as gum irritation. Bleeding gums are generally the first sign of trouble, as they are a precursor to gingivitis which is the earliest stage of gum disease.

At this point, your dentist can take care of the problem by cleaning your teeth. Sometimes, however, a deep cleaning is needed, which involves a process of scaling and planning. This is necessary when inflammation has spread to the extent that it has caused a periodontal pocket, determined at the dentist via a "pocket test." Overly deep pockets indicate that tartar deposits have had the opportunity to form under the gumline, hence requiring a deeper cleaning than usual.

While deep cleaning is generally sufficient to take care of incipient gum disease problems, there are times when this procedure is not enough, and periodontal surgery is indicated. This may occur when the pocket that has formed is inaccessible, or does not heal properly after treatment. Periodontal surgery is done under local anesthetic, and involves lifting the gum so that the area can be cleaned before it is put back into place, and held there by sutures. This procedure allows your periodontist to remove the disease-causing bacteria that has been allowed to accumulate under the gum tissue. If this bacteria is not removed, bone and tissue loss will result, and eventually, if too much bone is lost, the tooth will need to be extracted.

To combat this, your periodontist may also recommend a regenerative process for the lost bone and tissue supporting your teeth. This procedure takes place after the bacteria has been removed from underneath the gum tissue, after which bone grafts or tissue-stimulating proteins may be used to stimulate your body's ability to produce regenerative bone and tissue. The benefits of this procedure include not just a repair of the damage caused by periodontal disease, but also an increased chance of keeping your natural teeth.

Other types of periodontal surgery include crown lengthening, when too much of one's gumline is causing a less-than-pleasing aesthetic result, or soft tissue grafts, to deal with receding gums. A soft tissue graft can not only reduce further recession and bone loss, but it may also reduce tooth sensitivity as well as lead to improved aesthetics. As always, consult with your dentist to determine which of these procedures may be necessary, from either a functional/health standpoint, or from an aesthetic one.

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