The health of the teeth is closely related to the health of our body as a whole. If you have gum disease, gum pocket reduction surgery can clear tartar from your mouth and prevent the infection from spreading throughout your body.
As part of the procedure, the health care provider will perform bone surgery to smooth out the abnormalities in the jawbone. Here’s what to expect from this oral procedure.
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What is bone surgery?
Bone surgery is part of an effective periodontal disease treatment plan. In addition to removing cavities and pulling damaged teeth, gum pocket reduction surgery removes debris from fissures that form as a result of gum disease. Cutting out the infected tissue keeps the rest of your mouth and body healthy.
Once the gums are pulled back and the tartar buildup is removed, the tooth is smoothed to reduce the hidden spaces where bacteria like to hide. Bone surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia by a board-certified periodontist as part of an outpatient procedure.
The advantage of bone surgery is that it will be easier to keep your mouth clean by brushing afterwards. When gum pockets become too deep (greater than 3mm), it becomes impossible to reach the areas that need to be cleaned, making infection more likely.,These preventive procedures stop the progression of advanced gingivitis.
Contraindications
Treating advanced gum disease is essential to prevent more dangerous problems from developing. If a patient is pregnant or has allergies to certain medications, additional precautions will need to be taken during oral surgery. Always tell your healthcare provider your complete medical history to ensure your safety.
Potential risks
Even if you have the most skilled dentist, there is always the possibility of complications. With bone surgery, you should be aware of the following risks:
- Cavities: You are more likely to develop root-based cavities in teeth treated with gum pocket reduction surgery. Maintaining regular dental cleanings and checkups, along with proper home care, will help protect the most vulnerable teeth.
- Contamination: You are likely to end up with an oral infection after surgery. If left untreated, an infection in the mouth can spread to the rest of your body, causing serious health concerns. Following the aftercare instructions will help minimize the chance of infection.
- Receding gums: After surgery, your gums around the treated teeth may begin to recede faster than the rest of your gums, making those teeth appear longer than others. There is a remedy available to correct this problem if it occurs.
- Sensitive teeth: Your teeth may feel more sensitive to hot and cold. Using a drinking straw and waiting for your food to cool before eating will help you avoid the hassle.
Purpose of Osteosurgery
Bone surgery improves the success of gingival pocket reduction surgery for patients with advanced gingivitis. When bacteria from gum disease begin to infect areas of bone, the infected area must be removed before it continues to spread.
It has been shown that poor gum health can be associated with other medical conditions, such as premature births with low birth weight in pregnant women and cardiovascular disease.
Before surgery is considered, your dentist will try to treat gum disease with treatments such as root planing and scaling. However, once your dentist recommends gum pocket surgery or bone surgery, you likely have no less invasive treatment options.
According to the American Dental Association, scaling removes plaque and tartar from under the gums. Root planing helps the tooth and gums to reattach smoothes the root.,,
The sooner you can heal the infected area, the less tissue will need to be removed. Taking good care of your oral hygiene in the future will help you not to have the same surgery again for other teeth.
How to prepare
Here’s what you can do to prepare for bone surgery.
Location
A specialist, called a periodontist, will do your bone surgery. You will need to go to their office for the procedure.
what to wear
Wear comfortable surgical clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Your breast will be covered with a glow during the procedure, but it is still possible to splash blood or fluid on your clothes during the procedure.
Food and beverage
You do not need to restrict your food or drink intake before bone surgery as you will be given a local anesthetic. If your surgery is more extensive and will be performed under general anesthesia, your healthcare provider will give you more detailed instructions about when to start fasting.
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medications to avoid possible complications during surgery.
What should I bring?
Since you will be returning home from the surgery once it is over, you won’t need to bring a lot of things with you. Bring all necessary documents, dental insurance information and personal identification. Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery, as you will need some time to recover as the pain medication wears off.
What to expect on the day of surgery
As you go in for bone surgery, here’s what to expect on the day of your surgery.
Before the Surgery
You will have a thorough dental cleaning before bone surgery is performed. Arrive at your appointment on time to fill out any last minute paperwork.
During Surgery
The periodontist will numb the infected area with a local anesthetic and begin cutting around the teeth. Once the bone and roots are accessible, the area will be cleaned by scaling. Using hand tools and a drill, the health care provider will cut the bone around the teeth to perform bone surgery to create a smoother and more even shape.
If the bone is severely infected, your healthcare provider may perform a bone graft. A bone graft will help your body rebuild bone in areas where it has worn away to help maintain the shape and structure of the jaw.
After the healthcare provider has finished removing the infected tissue, the gums are pulled back over the bone and stapled together. Your doctor will bandage the area to keep it covered as it begins to heal.
After the Surgery
Once the operation is complete, you will be ready to go home. Follow the aftercare instructions carefully, including taking the pain medication as prescribed, removing your dressings carefully, and cleaning the area as directed.
Recovery
Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol for at least the first seven days after bone surgery to give your mouth the best chance of recovery. If you wear dentures, talk to your health care provider about when to have them replaced.
You will need to see the periodontist within seven to 10 days after surgery to check healing and remove the stitches. You should feel completely healed in about two to four weeks.
Pharmaceutical
Some swelling and bleeding is normal after oral surgery. You will be given aftercare instructions, including pain medication to ease discomfort and mouthwashes to keep the area clean.,You may also be prescribed antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. Using an ice pack will help control swelling and numb the area.
Dealing with Recovery
Placing extra pillows on your bed will allow you to keep your head elevated above your heart. This can reduce swelling and help you feel better faster.,When bleeding starts, bite down on a piece of gauze to apply pressure and stop the bleeding.
Stock up on soft foods to enjoy after surgery. You will need to avoid hard or sticky foods and carbonated drinks.,Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and don’t use a straw until your mouth is fully healed.
Possible interventions in the future
If your advanced gum disease has spread to other parts of your mouth, you may need to undergo bone surgery again for another tooth, or you may need a dental implant.
Keeping regular follow-up visits and being diligent about your dental health at home will help you avoid ever needing surgery. Scaling and root planing can be used to control advanced gingivitis before it reaches the point of surgery on other teeth.
Lifestyle adjustments
In addition to brushing and flossing, changing your eating habits can help improve your dental health. The optimal diet for dental health includes foods high in minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables will help keep your gums in good condition.
Frequent snacking, especially on sugary and sticky foods, attracts bacteria and promotes tooth decay. Remember to brush after eating sweets and drink plenty of water to prevent sugar from getting on your teeth and gums.
