Surgery Overview
You may need surgery for severe gum disease
() if it cannot be cured with
or root planing and scaling. A flap
procedure cleans the
of a tooth and repairs bone damage caused by
. A gum specialist (periodontist) or an
oral surgeon often performs the procedure.
Before the procedure,
you will be given a
to numb the area where the doctor
will work on your gums.
The doctor will pull back a section of
your gums to clean the
of your teeth and repair damaged bone, if
needed. The gum flap will be sewn back into place and covered with gauze to
stop the bleeding.
Bone may be:
- Smoothed and reshaped so that
has fewer places to grow.
- Repaired
() with bone from another part of the body or
with man-made materials. The doctor may place a lining on the bone graft to
help the bone grow back. The lining may need to be removed later.
What To Expect After Surgery
Typically it takes only a few days to
recover from a flap procedure. Be sure to follow the home care instructions
that your dentist or oral surgeon gives you. If you have questions about your
instructions, call the dentist or surgeon. The following are general
suggestions to help speed recovery:
- Take painkillers as prescribed.
- After 24 hours, you can rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water several times a day
to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
- Change gauze pads before they
become soaked with blood.
- Relax after surgery. Strenuous physical
activity may increase bleeding.
- Eat soft foods such as gelatin,
pudding, or light soup. Gradually add solid foods to your diet as the area
heals.
- Do not lie flat. This may prolong bleeding. Prop up your
head with pillows.
- Continue to carefully brush your teeth and
tongue.
- Apply an
to the outside of your mouth to help relieve pain and
swelling.
- Do not use sucking motions, such as when using a straw to
drink.
- Do not smoke.
A few days after the procedure, your dentist will remove
the stitches.
Why It Is Done
The flap procedure is necessary when
severe gum disease (periodontitis) has damaged the bones that support your
teeth.
How Well It Works
If you maintain good dental care
after the surgery, the flap procedure should help stop your gum disease. Your
gums should become pink and healthy again.