What is Osseous Surgery?
Periodontal disease is a common issue that many adults experience at some point in their life. It is most often a result of poor oral hygiene but some patients are genetically predisposed to periodontal issues and others may have other underlying conditions or take medications that can cause periodontal problems.
We have little pockets between each tooth and the surrounding gum tissue and when those pockets become infected, they can increase in size and depth. Healthy gum pockets are less than 3 millimeters deep and when the depth reaches upwards of 5 millimeters, they can become difficult to clean, even with regular professional cleaning.
The bacteria in your gum pockets wear away the underlying bone and cause the gum tissue to pull away from the surface of the teeth. All of these things can result in tooth loss but osseous surgery is a procedure that eradicates bacteria and can help encourage healthy bone regeneration.
What is osseous surgery?
Sometimes called pocket reduction surgery, a periodontist may utilize osseous surgery when other treatment options are unsuccessful. Less invasive treatments for periodontal disease might include scaling and root planing but if the infection is too deep or spread too far within the gum pockets, a deep cleaning may not suffice.
The process for osseous surgery takes about two hours and is performed under local anesthetic. The doctor will numb the area being treated and then they make a small incision along the gum line to allow them to flap the tissue back and access the underlying bone and tooth surfaces.
The infected areas are smoothed and cleaned before the tissue is flapped back and sutured together. If needed, your doctor may apply a bone graft or tissue graft before the sutures are placed which will help encourage healthy bone and tissue growth.
After Care For Osseous Surgery
Your doctor will provide a detailed list of postoperative care instructions which will include dietary changes and oral care modifications along with prescriptions for an antibiotic and pain relievers. Most people can return to normal daily habits after a few days of healing. Some of your postoperative instructions may include:
- A soft food diet
- Avoid using straws
- Avoid physical activity
- Avoid smoking and smokeless tobacco use
An ice pack can help relieve swelling and after the first day, using a saltwater rinse will help keep the area clean and minimize risk of infection.
It is important to improve your oral hygiene after osseous surgery. This will help reduce your chance of developing gum disease again and keep your mouth healthy. I see your surgery is an effective way to illuminate deep pocketing and prevent bone loss. If you suffer from periodontal disease and have not had success with non-surgical treatment options, osseous surgery may be a great option for you.