Osseous Surgery

Osseous surgery is also commonly referred to as gingivectomy or pocket reduction surgery. The surgery itself is a number of dental procedures used to help remove disease-prone bacteria and tartar on tooth roots which can cause rapid tooth decay. To setup an appointment at Dentalville Panorama City in Los Angeles, feel free to call us at (818) 686-5574.

Why Should You Get Osseous Surgery?

Osseous surgery is used to help remove deformities and pockets that surround areas of your teeth. Plus, it is a common surgery used to treat advanced stages of periodontal disease. However, even though the term has the word surgery in it, it is more of an intense cleaning, than anything. Here are a few things this surgery can help:

• Prevents bone loss: since your immune system’s response to periodontal bacteria can cause jaw bone loss and further lead to loss of teeth, this surgery can help stop the periodontal disease in its tracks.
• Reduces spread of bacteria: Bacteria in your mouth can spread to other areas of your body, promoting dangerous health-related conditions such as respiratory and heart disease. By removing bacteria and tartar at the source, there is less of a risk of these diseases from manifesting.
• Easier home oral care: Once your gum pockets deepen far enough, brushing and flossing can become a serious problem. Osseous surgery helps make brushing and flossing easier by reducing your gum’s pocket size.
• Achieving a better smile: Once your mouth is hit with enough bacteria and tartar, you can get broken teeth and rotting gums, which can leave you with depression over your poor image. Osseous surgery can help get your mouth in better shape and help you achieve a better smile overall.

The Procedure

Before the surgery begins, a local anesthetic will be applied in order to numb the area. Then, we will skillfully cut around the teeth in the affected area. This removes the gum tissue from the bone so that the doctor can access the roots of the teeth and the bone. The roots will then be cleaned completely through scaling. After this, we will reshape the bone surrounding the teeth using hand tools and a drill. The bone may need to be removed in some areas in order to restore the standard fall and rise of the bone, though at a lower level. If there are bigger defects, bone grafting might also be a part of the procedure.

After the bone has been reshaped, the gums will be moved back in place over the bone. Then, they will be sutured in place. The doctor will cover the affected area with a dressing or periodontal pack bandage.

When the entire procedure is completed, the doctor will usually prescribe some sort of pain medicine and a mouthwash that contains chlorhexidine. Often, the area will swell and bleed even after the surgery is completed. The swelling can be managed by holding an ice pack on the exterior of the surgery area. If the swelling and bleeding seem to be worse than normal, you should call our office as soon as you can. Usually, this procedure requires multiple follow-up visits. You must also follow detailed maintenance instructions to help your mouth to heal and to avoid any infection. This home care is especially important during the first days following the procedure.