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Posts for tag: periodontal surgery

All treatments for periodontal (gum) disease focus on one goal — to remove any bacterial plaque and calculus (hardened plaque deposits) that are at the heart of the infection. Plaque is a thin surface film of food particles and bacteria that cause gum disease.
Plaque builds up on tooth surfaces due to inadequate oral hygiene. And as the disease progresses brushing and flossing won’t be enough — you’ll need our services and specialized equipment to fully remove the plaque and calculus. The basic technique is called scaling in which we remove plaque and calculus manually from tooth surfaces above and just a few millimeters below the gum line.
As the disease develops, though, the slight natural gap between teeth and gums may begin to increase to form voids known as periodontal pockets. Filled with infection, these pockets can extend below the gum line onto the roots of the tooth. If the pocket extends more than 4 millimeters, basic scaling may not be able to remove all of the plaque and calculus.
Periodontists (dentists who specialize in the treatment and care of gum tissues) can perform a surgical method to access these deeper areas. Known as flap surgery, this procedure aims not only to reach and disinfect periodontal pockets and root surfaces, but also repair damaged gum tissue and create a better environment for future hygiene and treatment.
As the name implies, we create an opening in the gum tissue with one side remaining attached to the gum structure — much like the flap of a paper envelope. Through this opening we’re able to reach areas to remove plaque and calculus, as well as install both bone grafts to regenerate lost bone and growth factors to stimulate tissue growth. Once finished, we stitch the flap back into place with sutures and, in many cases, place a moldable dressing to protect and hold the flap secure while the incision heals.
This relatively minor procedure can be performed with local anesthesia and requires only a few days of recuperation. The results, though, can provide long-term benefits — reduced infection, better bone and gum health, and a more conducive environment for future maintenance of health — that could save your teeth and your smile for many years to come.
If you would like more information on treatments for gum disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Periodontal Flap Surgery.”

There’s only one way to effectively halt the progressive damage of periodontal (gum) disease — completely remove the bacterial plaque and hardened deposits (calculus) from above and below the gum line that are causing the infection. Although we can accomplish this in most cases with hand instruments called scalers, ultra-sonic equipment or both, some cases may require periodontal surgery to access and clean deeper “pockets” of infection.
As this damaging disease progresses, the supporting bone dissolves and the gum tissues will begin to detach from a tooth, leaving an open space known as a “periodontal pocket.” Besides plaque and calculus pus may also form as a result of the infection. All of this material must be removed from the pocket before healing and, hopefully, tissue reattachment can begin.
Shallow pockets near the gum line are usually accessed and cleaned with hand instruments. But deeper pockets (5 millimeters or greater in depth) may require a surgical procedure to completely clean the area also allowing for regenerative procedures to be done to regain attachment. This will reduce the depth of the periodontal pockets that will make them more accessible for future cleanings and maintenance. Flap surgery is a common type of such a procedure: a small opening (similar to the flap of a letter envelope) is surgically created in the gum tissue to expose the area of infection around the tooth root and bone.
There are also other types of periodontal surgery for repairing and stimulating regeneration of damaged gum tissues. Using grafts or other enhancements, these plastic surgical techniques are especially useful where gum tissues have receded above the natural gum line, leaving more of the underlying tooth below the enamel exposed to disease. These procedures have become more effective in recent years with the development of specialized technologies called “barrier membranes” and biologic growth factors. These materials have allowed bone grafts to be more successful as this technology is engineered for targeted tissue growth and repair, and then dissolve at an appropriate point in the regeneration process.
Periodontal surgery isn’t appropriate for every situation. Still, these procedures do play an important role for many patients to put a halt to the damage caused by gum disease.
If you would like more information on surgical procedures for gum disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Periodontal Surgery: Where Art Meets Science.”

Dentist - Boonville
911 Aigner Dr
Boonville, IN 47601
(812) 897-1410
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- June (6)
- Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
- 3 Types of Tooth Pain and What They Might be Telling You
- Keep on Course during the 3 Phases of a Smile Makeover
- June Is National Safety Month: Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies
- Finding the Right Solution for Your Gummy Smile
- Watch Out for Signs of Gum Recession
- March (5)
- Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
- A Partial Denture Can Restore a Smile Marred by a Few Missing Teeth
- Consider Saving a Tooth Before you Decide to Replace it
- A Child's Teeth Grinding is Normal - But You Should Still Keep an Eye on it
- A Pediatric Dentist Could be a Great Choice for Your Child's Dental Care
- 2017
- December (5)
- Survey Says: They'd Rather Have a Root Canal
- Have a Loose Tooth? You'll Need This Two-Phase Treatment to Save It
- There's Still Hope for a Re-Infected Tooth After Root Canal Treatment
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Ways You Can Help Your Child Feel at Home at the Dentist
- June (5)
- Include Limitations on Sugar in Your Tooth Decay Prevention Strategy
- Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Overcoming Gum Recession will Restore Dental Health and your Smile
- February (5)
- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
- Know the Facts Before Considering Botox for Jaw Joint Pain
- Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
- Avoid Permanent Tooth Alteration with No-Prep Veneers
- Don't Let Your Loose Tooth Become a Lost Tooth
- 2016
- October (5)
- Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
- Stop Annoying Canker Sores with These Effective Treatments
- New Understanding of Bacteria Promises Better Approaches to Oral Care
- Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
- Don't let Gum Disease - the 'Other Dental Disease' - Rob you of Your Smile
- August (5)
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Metal Dental Amalgam: Still a Safe and Effective Tooth Filling
- Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
- You can Still have Implants with Diabetes - if you have it under Control
- People Born with Missing Teeth can Still Gain a Beautiful Smile
- June (5)
- Be Sure Your Child has Access to Dental-Friendly Snacks at School
- Patchy Discolorations on the Tongue Aren't a Cause for Worry
- Take These Measures to Lower Your Child's Tooth Decay Risk
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Reasons Saving Your Child's Decayed Baby Tooth is a Good Idea
- March (5)
- 5 Ways to Make Your Smile More Confident and Inviting
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Removable Dentures Remain a Viable Option for People with Total Tooth Loss
- Find out What Kind of Tooth Staining you Have Before Seeking a Solution
- Gaining a New Attractive Smile is More than Achievable
- 2015
- December (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Customized Temporary Crowns let you 'Rehearse' Your Future Smile
- Paying Attention to Certain Factors Helps Ensure Successful Implant Outcomes
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Implant-Based Removable Dentures a Good Choice for Patients with Extensive Bone Loss
- 2014
- 2013
- December (5)
- Taking Care of your Teeth During Pregnancy Helps Both you and your Baby
- Dental Amalgam Fillings Remain a Safe and Reliable Tooth Restoration Option
- New Permanent Teeth - Faster Than Ever!
- Quitting the Smoking Habit Could Vastly Improve Your Dental Health
- Loose Dentures Could Lead to Further Bone Loss
- 2012
- 2011
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