Periodontal surgery may be necessary when a routine scale and polish clean with the hygienist is not sufficient enough to prevent and stop gum disease.
What is periodontal surgery?
Periodontal surgery includes the following procedures:
Pocket reduction: periodontal pockets occur when the gum detaches from the root of the tooth, allowing plaque and tartar to collect beneath the gum line. By closing the periodontal pocket, your dentist can remove infected substances and smoothen out areas of compromised bone. This then allows the gum to reattach itself.
Gum grafts: when your gums start to recede due to overzealous brushing and gum disease, this exposes areas of dentine not protected by tooth enamel. A gum graft reconstructs lost gum tissue so that these areas of dentine are no longer as vulnerable to erosion and infection.
Bone regeneration: long term and advanced gum disease can begin to deteriorate the jawbone, which eventually leads to tooth loss. Bone regeneration involves removing the areas of infected bone and gum and replacing this with a grafting material which will generate the proteins the body needs to replenish this.
Root planing: treatment is required to remove the plaque and tartar that has settled beneath the gum line.
Your periodontal appointment
During your consultation we will take X-rays and scans of your mouth and jaw to establish the health of your gums and bone. A treatment plan will then be created to stabilise you gum health and prevent further problems arising. Once your treatment has been carried out, we will let you know how often to come in for regular hygienist cleaning depending on your risk factors for periodontal disease in the future.
We use sophisticated diagnostic equipment and use gentle techniques to remove damaging substances like plaque and tartar. Our use of scans and screens allows us to give patients a simple yet informative breakdown of what’s happening in their mouth and why, which we have found to be indispensable for teaching how to spot and prevent gum disease.
