Do I Need Osseous Surgery?
Osseous surgery, also called pocket reduction surgery, is a treatment that may be recommended when nonsurgical treatments are insufficient. We have pockets between our teeth and gums and when they get too deep, infection can grow in the pockets leading to gum recession and bone loss. When the bone begins to deteriorate, teeth become mobile and can even fall out. Osseous surgery is a safe, common procedure used to eradicate infection and promote healthy bone growth.
Gum disease is a very common issue among adult patients and can lead to issues that are detrimental to your teeth. In its early stages, gum disease presents as gingivitis which is simply the inflammation of the gum tissue and is typically easy to get rid of and does not cause any permanent damage. Left untreated, gum disease can turn into advanced periodontitis at which point irreversible damage may occur and more invasive treatments, such as osseous surgery, may be required to restore the health of your mouth.
Osseous Surgery Explained
When periodontal disease begins to cause bone loss, osseous surgery may be necessary. Sometimes, the laws can be prevented with scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) but when that cannot prevent the progression of bone loss, your doctor may recommend osseous surgery. This procedure is used to eliminate areas of the mouth that support bacteria growth and heal the affected areas.
As with most dental treatments, a local anesthetic is used to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Your doctor will numb the area being treated and make a small incision that will allow them to create a flap in the gum tissue to gain access to the underlying bone. They will then proceed to shave or trim away any infected areas. The surfaces are then cleaned and smoothed and the gum tissue is brought back down and sutured, most often with dissolvable sutures.
In some cases, your doctor may also place a bone graft to help encourage healthy bone regeneration. Bone graft is often done if an implant is intended later in the treatment plan.
Do I need osseous surgery?
If your doctor has recommended osseous surgery to treat your periodontal disease, it is important to follow through with treatment to prevent further bone loss and potentially, tooth loss. It is recommended two patients who have periodontal disease that has progressed past the point at which non-surgical treatment would be successful. If you have deep gum pockets that have not improved with other periodontal treatments, you may need osseous surgery.
Healthy gum pockets measure less than 3 millimeters deep but if you consistently have measurements above seven or eight millimeters, you may be recommended to have osseous surgery to restore the health of your mouth and prevent the loss and even tooth loss. Periodontal disease should be addressed as soon as possible to avoid such necessary procedures but sometimes, patients are predisposed to periodontal problems and may need a little extra help keeping everything healthy.