Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Do you have a bad breath? Maybe your teeth feel a little loose? These are not symptoms to just ignore. These could be signs of severe gum disease (Periodontitis). If we leave this condition as it is, the bone around the teeth can dissolve and eventually the teeth can fall out. Today we are talking about a very important and successful surgery that is used to treat such a condition.
What is Osseous Surgery?
Simply put, Osseous Surgery is a specialized surgical procedure performed by Periodontists to treat advanced gum disease. The main goal of this is to eliminate the deep gaps, or "pockets," that have formed between your teeth and gums.
Imagine, when you have gum disease for a long time, small grooves form between your teeth and gums. Food particles, dirt, and harmful bacteria can easily get stuck in these grooves. No matter how well you brush and floss your teeth, you can't reach these deep places. Osseous surgery cleans out those deep pockets where bacteria hide, and reshapes the bone around the gums, making those pockets shallower. Then the bacteria have nowhere to hide again.
If gum disease is not treated properly, in addition to tooth loss, it also increases the risk of other serious illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Therefore, oral health is very important for our overall health.
Are there main types of this surgery?
Yes, there are two main types. You should talk to your dentist to decide which method is best for your situation.
| Type of Surgery | Method and Description |
|---|---|
| Traditional Osseous Surgery | The doctor makes a small incision in the gum and gently removes the gum, exposing the roots of the tooth. Then, the bone around the tooth is prepared to eliminate deep pockets, and the gum is brought back into place and sutured. This is the most commonly used and most successful method. |
| Laser Osseous Surgery | This is a new method. It uses laser energy to destroy bacteria without harming healthy tissue. It does not require incisions or stitches. However, this method may not be suitable for everyone because the results can be mixed. |
How do you prepare before surgery?
Your dentist will give you specific instructions before surgery, but here are some general things to prepare for.
- Blood thinners: If you are taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) such as aspirin or warfarin, you should inform your doctor. Your doctor will tell you how far in advance of surgery you should stop taking these.
- Eat well: Your mouth may be sore after surgery, so it may be difficult to eat. So, eat a good meal before surgery.
- Bring a companion: If you are being completely sedated during your procedure (sedation dentistry), bring a trusted friend or family member to drive you home. However, if you are only being given local anesthesia or nitrous oxide, you can go home alone.
- Smoking and Alcohol: Avoid smoking and alcohol completely for 24 hours before and after surgery. These interfere with the healing process.
How is the surgery performed?
While this may sound like a big deal, it is a common procedure performed by a skilled doctor. It usually takes about 30-60 minutes.
1. Numbness: First, you will be given an injection to numb your teeth and gums.
2. Making an incision: Then a small incision is made along the gum line.
3. Gum removal: The gum is gently pushed aside to expose the tooth roots and bone.
4. Cleaning: The plaque and bacteria that have accumulated on the roots of the teeth are thoroughly cleaned.
5. Bone preparation: The damaged bone is smoothed out and the bone is reshaped to eliminate deep pockets.
6. Bone grafting (if necessary): If a lot of bone has been lost, artificial bone grafts (Dental Bone Grafts) are implanted in those areas to allow the bone to regrow.
7. Suturing: Finally, the gum is brought back into place and closed with either dissolvable sutures or post-surgical sutures.
Are there any risks and complications of this surgery?
As with any surgery, there are some minor risks involved. But don't worry, these are usually very rare. Your doctor will explain how to manage them.
- Bleeding more than normal
- Infection
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Root cavities
- Gum recession
The important thing is that these risks are very small compared to the harm that would result from not having this surgery. Therefore, if your doctor recommends this surgery, it is wise to have it done.
How should you take care of yourself after surgery?
The success of the surgery is greatly influenced by how you take care of yourself after the surgery. The recovery time can usually vary from two to four weeks.
- Pain and swelling: It is normal to have some pain, tenderness, and swelling in your mouth for the first few days. Use painkillers exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
- Medications: Take all medications prescribed by your doctor (especially antibiotics) on time and for the full duration.
- Mouthwash: Keep the surgical area clean and use an antibacterial mouthwash recommended by your doctor.
- Food: Eat soft, liquid foods for the first few days. For example, mashed potatoes, yogurt, eggs, soups, and easy-to-chew foods like macaroni. Avoid spicy, hot, and hard foods.
- Drink: Do not drink anything through straws for a week.
- Brushing: Gently brush your other teeth, avoiding the surgical area. Your doctor will show you how to clean the surgical area.
When to call a doctor immediately
If you notice anything like this after surgery, inform your dentist without delay .
- If you have severe pain that cannot be controlled even with medication.
- If bleeding does not stop from the surgical site.
- If there is pus coming from the surgical site or signs of infection.
- If you have a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius).
Is this surgery really necessary?
Yes. If you have severe gum disease that cannot be controlled by other treatments (for example, deep cleaning), then Osseous Surgery is definitely necessary. The longer we delay treating this, the more the bone around the teeth will dissolve. Eventually, the teeth may become unsalvageable. Therefore, this is to protect your teeth and overall health in the long term.
Take-Home Message
- Osseous Surgery is a very successful and safe surgery for severe gum disease (Periodontitis).
- The main goal is to clean the deep pockets around the teeth and prevent the bacteria from re-accumulating.
- It is very important to follow the doctor's instructions exactly for recovery after surgery.
- If you have symptoms like bleeding gums, bad breath, or loose teeth, don't ignore them. See a dentist immediately.
- The best way to avoid this type of surgery is to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly every day, and go for regular dental checkups.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න