Osseus Surgery
Osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. It is a common necessity in effective treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases. The ultimate goal of osseous surgery is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal disease.
The specific goals of Osseous surgery include:
- Reducing Bacterial Spread:
Bacteria from the mouth can spread throughout the body and cause other life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and respiratory disease. Removing bacterial deposits located deep within the gum tissue can help reduce the risk of bacteria from spreading throughout the body.
- Preventing Bone Loss:
The immune system’s inflammatory response prompted by periodontal bacteria can lead to bone loss in the jaw region, and cause tooth loss. Osseous surgery seeks to stop periodontal disease before it progresses to this level.
- Facilitating Home Care:
As the gum pocket deepens, it can become nearly impossible to brush and floss adequately. Osseous surgery reduces pocket size, making it easier to brush and floss, and thereby prevent further periodontal disease.
What does this procedure entail?
A local anesthetic will be used to numb the area prior to surgery. First, Dr. Fletcher will make an incision around each tooth of the affected area to release the gum tissue from the bone. This allows access to the bone and roots of the teeth. After the roots have been thoroughly cleaned through scaling, Dr. Fletcher will reshape the bone around the teeth. Bone is removed in some areas to restore the normal rise and fall of the bone, but at a lower level. Bone grafting may also be necessary to fill in large defects.
Next, the gums will be repositioned at the correct level and sutured. The site will also be covered with a bandage (periodontal pack) or dressing. Pain medicine and mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine may be prescribed following the surgery.
Several follow up visits are necessary and you must fulfill a meticulous maintenance program especially during the initial phases of healing to avoid post-operative infection.