Gum Surgery Specialist

What is gum surgery?

Gum surgery is a type of oral surgery that treats gum disease and the damaging effects it has on your oral tissues. 

There are a few common strategies for gum surgery that your dentist at Central Avenue Dental might use depending on the extent of your damage as well as your end goals with treatment. 

Gum surgery can involve:

Pocket reduction

Also called flap surgery, pocket reduction is a procedure to remove plaque and bacteria from under your gums on the roots of your teeth. Your dentist then reattaches the gum tissue to the tooth surfaces. 

Crown lengthening

Crown lengthening is a gum surgery to remove gum overgrowth that makes your teeth look shorter. This option can remove diseased gum tissue or address cosmetic concerns. 

Gum grafting

Gum grafting involves taking a tissue sample from elsewhere in your mouth, like the roof, and using it to replace gum tissue after gum recession from periodontal disease. 

What does gum surgery treat?

Gum surgery generally helps treat or manage gum disease. In the early stages, gum disease is called gingivitis and doesn’t require such extensive treatment. You can often reverse it by improving your oral hygiene habits.

As gum disease gets worse, it progresses into a stage called periodontitis. Some typical signs of periodontitis are:

• Gums that bleed easily
• Red or purple gums
• Gum swelling
• Pus leaking out from gums
• Loose adult teeth
• Foul breath
• Unusual spaces between teeth
• Changes in bite
• Gum recession

Your dentist at Central Avenue Dental examines your teeth and gums and can let you know if you need gum surgery or if you can manage your gum disease without it.

What is the recovery like after gum surgery?

Toward the end of your gum surgery, your dentist may place stitches to close any incisions or hold grafted tissue in place. Some stitches are dissolvable, but others aren’t. If your stitches are not dissolvable, you need to book another appointment for removal at Central Avenue Dental. 

When you go home, your mouth is sore for a few days after gum surgery. To manage the soreness and tenderness, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers. You can also use ice or a cold pack to reduce some of the swelling that might happen. 

If you experience heavy bleeding, a fever, or other signs of a complication, you should call Central Avenue Dental right away for your next steps. 

If you have signs of gum disease and want to know if you need gum surgery, call Central Avenue Dental, or book an appointment online today.

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