Category: Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Anesthetic (numbing medication) and stitches are used for most surgical procedures. To build back gum and bone, donor tissue is required. This gum or bone tissue may come from another part of the patient’s own body, or from a donor person or animal – all donor graft material is sterilized for safety. Antibiotics and mouth rinses are often used after surgery during the healing period.

The possible benefits of surgical periodontal therapy include: Removal of plaque and tartar in previously inaccessible areas. Elimination of hard-to-maintain periodontal pockets. Improvement of function and appearance.

Some potential risks following treatment include: Tenderness of the gums for a period of time. Increased temperature sensitivity of the teeth for a period of time. Shrinkage of the gums which may lead to longer looking teeth, more root sensitivity, increased spaces between teeth the near gum line and altered aesthetics. If gum and bone are being built back up, they may shrink or slough off during healing and the procedure may need to be redone. All surgical procedures carry

The alternatives to surgical periodontal therapy are non-surgical periodontal therapy and no treatment. It is important to understand that non-surgical periodontal therapy does not replace surgical periodontal therapy. If you do not manage your disease by adopting appropriate periodontal therapies, you must recognize the risk of further periodontal infection and ultimately tooth loss.

After periodontal surgery you shouldn’t use hard toothbrushes or other dental hygiene aids that may irritate the surgical site. Post-treatment limitations during healing include avoiding chewing or put forces on the surgical site. As with any wound healing, a faster result with fewer complications will occur if the surgery sight is left unharmed.