Gum disease is an infection of tissues around the teeth. It causes the gums to bleed and pull away from the teeth, as well as persistent bad breath, loose teeth, and a change in your bite. In serious cases, it may cause tooth loss. If you have moderate to severe gum disease, you may need gum surgery. Flap surgery and gingivectomy are two different surgical approaches to consider; Dr. [doctor_name] will help you determine which procedure is right for you.
Flap surgery is a procedure in which, after numbing the patient, the dentist will temporarily fold back the gum tissues. This allows [himher] to remove bacteria and infected areas from the root and bone. The dentist then uses a procedure called scaling and root planing to clean the bone and root of the tooth. During this procedure, the dentist will also smooth the edges of the bone and root, as plaque and tartar do not stick as easily to smooth areas. When this is done, our gentle dentist will place the gums back against the teeth and anchor them using stitches.
During a gingivectomy, Dr. [doctor_name] numbs your gums and then removes and reshapes loose, diseased gum tissue with a laser. This gets rid of pockets between the teeth and gums. After the diseased gum tissue is removed, the dentist puts a temporary putty over your gum line to protect the tissues during the healing process. We recommend that you eat soft foods and avoid hot drinks while your gums are healing.
To learn more about the treatments we offer for gum disease in [city], [state], we invite you to call our friendly office today.