Stabilizing Teeth and Restoring Gum Health
Periodontal disease, if left untreated, can lead to the destruction of supporting structures such as bone and connective tissue, causing teeth to become loose or even fall out. Pocket reduction surgery aims to halt the progression of the disease by accessing and cleaning the roots of the teeth, removing diseased tissue, and reshaping the bone to promote healing.
Osseous Surgery
Periodontitis is a disease that causes destruction of the supporting structures around teeth that includes bone. The disease erodes away bone in a manner that leaves irregularities to the normal physiologic bony architecture. Osseous surgery is a term that encompasses a group of procedures to treat periodontal disease. Osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. The procedure is also known as pocket reduction surgery, or flap surgery. In some cases, bone replacement grafts can be used to regenerate areas where bone has been lost. Osseous surgery is a common necessity in effective treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases. The ultimate goal of osseous surgery is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal disease. Despite the word “surgery” the procedure is more like a thorough cleaning with direct access and visibility to the diseased areas of the teeth.
After the procedure, the bone and gum tissue around teeth is placed at a level that is most conducive to oral hygiene practices such as brushing, flossing, and the use of aids to clean in between teeth. To maintain the results of the procedure, we demonstrate to our patients how best to utilize oral hygiene tools tailored to each individual patient.
Guided Tissue Regeneration
Gum disease has traditionally been treated by eliminating the gum pockets by trimming away the infected gum tissue and by re-contouring the uneven bone tissue. Although this is still an effective way of treating gum disease, new and more sophisticated procedures are used routinely today. One of these advancements guided tissue regeneration. This procedure is used to stabilize endangered teeth.
As periodontal disease progresses, pockets of degenerated bone develop in the jaw. These pockets can promote the growth of bacteria and the spread of infection. To address these pockets, Dr. Farris, Dr. Gonzalez, Dr. Sharma, Dr. Little may recommend periodontal regeneration. During this surgical procedure, the pockets are cleaned thoroughly, a bone graft and/or a membrane is inserted between the soft tissue and the defect in the bone. These membranes are bio-absorbable. The membrane covers the pocket so that fast-growing soft tissue is blocked, and slower-growing bone can begin to grow, or “regenerate” itself.
Gingivectomy
The gum tissue can be very thick and large covering the tooth surface making the teeth look short. This can happen because of medications, bone that extends too close to the surface of the teeth, or inflammation due to gum disease.
Our team will anesthetize the area(s) to be treated. The excess of gum tissue is removed either with a scalpel blade and sometimes some rotary instruments or a laser. In most cases no sutures (stitches) are required. The surgical sites will be sore for 24-48 hours, and medication will be provided to alleviate any discomfort experienced. A week follow-up appointment is usually needed to ensure proper healing.