ORAL SURGERY

You may need surgery for severe gum disease (periodontists) if it cannot be controlled with antibiotics or root planning and scaling. A flap procedure cleans the roots of the tooth and repairs bone damage caused by gum disease.

How well does it work?
It’s necessary to consistently maintain good dental care after the surgery, both in the office with your dental professional and at home. The flap procedure should allow you to clean your teeth and gums more effectively, and your gums should become pink and healthy again.

What to Think About
* A flap procedure is often needed to save teeth that are supported by a bone damaged by gum disease.

* Gum disease usually will come back if you do not brush and floss regularly after surgery.

* To promote healing, stop all use of tobacco. Smoking or using spit tobacco decreases your ability to fight the infection in your gums and delays healing.

* You will need to see your dentist regularly so that he or she can follow your progress. If your gum disease spreads, you may lose teeth.

* This procedure often helps prolong the life of the tooth in your mouth. Based on how aggressive the disease is, you still may lose the tooth in the future.Types of Dental Extractions

Regeneration of Lost Bone and/or Gums
Guided bone regeneration, or GBR, and guided tissue regeneration, or GTR, are surgical dental procedures that use barrier membranes to direct the growth of new bone and gum tissue at sites where bone loss or gum recession has occurred. It can be used to correct natural teeth, crowns, bridges, and implants.