Explaining Osseous Surgery

January 1, 2021

The term osseous surgery can confuse you and make you question everyone around you; what is osseous surgery? It is a procedure to reduce the pocket size (not of your trousers) but the pockets you develop in your gums if you are affected by gum disease. The process undoubtedly minimises the size of your wallet as well because the periodontal specialist in San Diego will charge you fees after performing Osseous Surgery near you.

This article explains what osseous surgery is and why you may need to undergo the procedure.

Why May Your Dentist Recommend Osseous Surgery?

Generally, if your mouth is healthy, the pocket depth between the base of your teeth and gums should be less than two to three mm. However, if you have gum disease affecting you, the size of these pockets can increase. When the pocket size grows over 5 millimetres cleaning the area becomes challenging either at home or by a professional cleaning from a dental hygienist.

Gum disease results from bacterial buildup appearing as a sticky and colourless plaque. When the pockets become deeper, they allow bacteria to enter to wear away your gums and bone. Leave it untreated, and the pockets continue getting deeper until tooth removal becomes necessary.

Osseous surgery also called pocket reduction surgery, eliminates the bacteria populating the pockets. During the osseous surgery procedure, your gums are cut by an oral surgeon to remove the bacteria and repair the damaged bone. This article will explain why your dentist Sorrento Valley recommends pocket reduction, how the procedure is performed, and what other methods are beneficial to get rid of the pockets.

Osseous Surgery Goals

Eliminating or reducing pockets created by gum disease is the primary aim of osseous surgery. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that hasn’t affected your jawbone. When you leave gingivitis untreated, it progresses to periodontitis, causing damages to the bone supporting your teeth. When gum disease and pockets are left untreated, it results in tooth loss eventually.

You may be scared when recommended osseous surgery but will do well to understand the procedure’s benefits, including the high success rate it has. Avoiding tobacco and following your dentist’s post-surgery recommendations increases the effectiveness of this procedure. Osseous surgery is safe but can leave you with tooth sensitivity, gum recession, bleeding, and tooth loss.

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The Osseous Surgery Procedure

The osseous surgery procedure requires approximately two hours and is performed by a periodontist. Your dentist recommends pocket reduction surgery if you are affected by severe gum disease unrepeatable by antibiotics or root planing. Here is what you can expect during osseous surgery.

You receive local anaesthesia in your gums to numb the area. A small incision is made in your gum line by the periodontist to fold back your gums and remove the bacteria beneath. After removing the bacteria, the periodontist will smooth down the areas where bone damage has occurred. If you are affected by severe bone damage, implementation of a periodontal regeneration technique becomes essential. These techniques involved bone grafts and guided tissue regenerative membranes. Your gums are sutured back and coated with periodontal dressing to endure the bleeding better.

Recovering from Pocket Reduction Surgery

A few days are required to recover from osseous surgery. You receive specific recommendations from your periodontist on dietary changes you must make during the recovery process, along with a prescription for pain-relieving medications.

The following tips help to recover from gum surgery faster.

You must avoid smoking, which is challenging, but your doctor can create a plan for you that works best.
You must avoid using a straw until your mouth heals entirely.
You must have soft foods during the initial days after the procedure.
It will help if you avoid physical activity after the surgery.
You must change the gauze pad placed by your periodontist regularly.
Use saltwater to ensure more after 24 hours.
If your mouth is swollen, place an ice pack on your cheeks to reduce it.

Alternatives for Osseous Surgery

If your gum disease has progressed to an advanced stage, the only method to preserve your tooth is osseous surgery. However, if the condition is mild, you are recommended scaling, and root planing is a method to treat gum disease.

Scaling and root planing are the gold standard initial treatment options for periodontitis. You may also be recommended antibiotics, either oral or topical, to eliminate the bacteria built up in the pockets of your gums. Antibiotics are useful as a treatment option for mild gum disease.

Bone grafting is recommended if gum disease has destroyed the bone around your tooth. A procedure called guided tissue regeneration helps regenerate the bone damaged by bacteria.

Gum disease develops from improper dental hygiene and the lack of visits to your emergency dentist in San Diego for cleanings and exams. If your condition requires osseous surgery to reduce the gum pockets, you can also expect the reduction to hurt your pockets and wallet.