GUM SURGERY

 

How often have you been troubled by recurrent bad breath from your mouth? Do your gums bleed profusely while you brush? Bleeding gums and halitosis is reported by approximately 40 percent of patients in our dental office. This is the beginning of the periodontal disease. This is due to the accumulation of plaque and microbes on your teeth. Improper cleaning (which could be because of many reasons) can further intensify the disease. If left untreated it further leads to swollen gums, hard calculus formation, and mobility of teeth.

This needs immediate intervention. Various studies have indicated an association between oral microbes and various systemic diseases. Long-standing periodontal infections are seen to be associated with various systemic diseases like:

  1. Heart diseases: Many studies have found that people with gum diseases have a high incidence of poor heart health.
  2. Diabetes and gum diseases: people with diabetes are more prone to general infections as well as oral infections. A study has shown that patients with diabetes have a high recurrence of gum infections.
  3. Rheumatoid arthritis: It’s an autoimmune disease that has the presentation of inflammation and painful joints. People with rheumatoid arthritis have more chances of periodontal diseases and even more chances of mobile and missing teeth. Another study has shown that people who had a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis had less pain and stiffness after the correction of periodontal diseases.
  4. Gum diseases and dementia: Researchers have shown that periodontal problems cause minor memory and cognitive issues in later stages of life.

What are the symptoms of periodontal diseases?

  1. Swollen gums
  2. Bleeding gums
  3. Creation of spaces between teeth
  4. Pus discharge from your gums
  5. Bad breath
  6. Mobility of teeth
  7. Pain while chewing food
  8. Receding gums

What treatment should be provided?

Depending upon the extent of infection and the condition of teeth and underlying gums, the treatment options can be decided. There could be:

Non Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment

    Non-surgical treatment:

  1. Professional cleaning: After an examination, we would remove the plaque and calculus from your tooth surface. Most of the time patients are not able to clean their teeth properly which becomes the root cause of all periodontal diseases.
  2. Deep scaling and root planning: This procedure is done under local anesthesia, wherein the plaque and calculus from above and below the gingival margin are removed. The surface is then smoothened, a smooth surface aids in the reattachment of gums to the teeth.

  Surgical treatments for gum diseases

  1. Flap surgery: In advanced gum disease cases where scaling and root planning cannot provide the desired results, then the gums are lifted and the area is thoroughly cleaned. The damaged bone is repaired and smoothened. The gums are structured back to the bone with the help of sutures. This reduces the area between the gum and the tooth, where harmful bacteria can grow and harbour.
  2. Bone surgeries: Some patients present with deep and shallow craters in the bone due to bone loss. Whenever a flap is raised for the surgery, the craters are reshaped. This makes them less prone to bacterial growth and accumulation.
  3. Bone grafts: Advanced periodontal diseases can lead to bone loss. In bone grafting, either a fragment of your bone, a synthetic bone, or a donor’s bone can be used to replace the lost bone portion. Grafts stimulate new bone growth. This in turn renders the tooth more stable.
  4. Surgery for correction of gum recession: Gum recession happens when the gingiva wears away and exposes more tooth structure to the oral cavity. Due to this exposure, there could be sensitivity to hot and cold food.

In case you don’t get it treated, it can eventually lead to tooth loss.

Soft tissue grafts are used to treat gum recession. The tissue is usually taken from the roof of the mouth after making a flap and is sutured back after the procedure.

5. Crown lengthening: This is a procedure done for

  • For cosmetic concerns: Treatment of gummy smile
  • For exposure of tooth structure for crown or bridge placement
  • For exposure of fractured tooth portion
  • Exposure of cavity beneath the gumline

Crown lengthening can be done by the following techniques:

Gingivectomy

Removal of gum tissue with the help of laser or scalpel

Repositioning the gum tissue towards the apical side:

A flap is raised and it is sutured down to expose the crown portion.

Surgical extrusion

We can move the tooth upwards in some cases, more towards the gum line.

6.Implants

In some cases, it’s difficult to save the tooth. Removing a tooth is the only option to preserve the bone and the remaining structures. We place implants in such patients and restore the functionality of the mouth.

 7.Laser surgery: We at Aruma dental implant clinic have been using Lasers for

almost all surgical procedures. The benefits of using lasers for the procedure:

1) Reduced bleeding

2) Shorter healing period: Lesser trauma to the adjoining tissues hence better healing.

3) Lasers are minimally invasive.

4) No damage to the healthy part

5) Low risk of bacterial infections

Frequently asked questions

Would the surgery be painful and how long would it take for healing?

The surgery is performed under anaesthesia. The patients are prescribed antibiotics and analgesics so postoperative pain and infection is controlled as well. Healing would depend upon how well you maintain the surgical site.

Would I be able to resume work on the same day?

We recommend you to take a day or two off. The body takes its time to heal and you should rest well for better healing.

Would I be able to smoke after the surgery?

Smoking is a big deterrent in healing and we strictly advise every patient to give up smoking till there is the healing of the surgical site.

Postoperative instructions

  1. For the first 24 hours, no brushing or spitting
  2. Liquid or semi-solid diet
  3. Avoid hot food
  4. No heavy exercise for 24-48 hours
  5. Oral hygiene maintenance: We would guide you well after the surgery about the brushing technique and good hygiene maintenance. A surgical site should be kept clean. Using mouthwash is a must after surgery to prevent the accumulation of microbes.
  6. Scaling: Recalls are a must after the surgery. Scaling should be done after every six months to ensure that there is no recurrence of the disease

Why choose us?

Dr. Arun kachapilly is a renowned periodontist and has been performing all the periodontal procedures for a long time. His surgeries have a high success rate. He is dedicated to the needs of every patient and provides the best treatment possible.