What is Osseous Surgery: Procedure, Benefits & Recovery

What is Osseous Surgery?

Osseous surgery is a term that refers to pocket reduction surgery. It is a procedure that focuses on gums’ health, targeting the hard-to-reach areas of your gum tissue. Osseous surgery entails dental protocols for removing plaque and bacteria in the gum pockets that form right beneath the gum line.

The gum pockets typically begin forming when you have periodontal disease. This disease, commonly caused by poor oral hygiene, allows plaque to build up on teeth surfaces, particularly settling at the tooth roots. Over time, the bacteria slip under the gum line, eventually forming pockets for more plaque and bacteria to accumulate. Osseous surgery is among the treatments our periodontist in Coral Springs, FL recommends for periodontal disease.

What Does the Osseous Surgery Procedure Entail?

The primary goal of pocket reduction surgery is to eliminate the spaces forming in your gum line that entrap plaque and bacteria in your oral cavity. First, the dentist numbs your mouth with local anesthesia to make the procedure pain-free. In some cases, sedation dentistry is crucial to help you stay still, relaxed, and control your gag reflexes during surgery.

The surgery begins by making a tiny incision on your gums. Your dentist will then fold the flap to clean inside the gum pocket, removing all bacteria and plaque. After that, (s)he will perform root planing, which smooths out the area and rectifies any damage to the bone tissue underneath. Sometimes, the dentist may need to obtain a new gum graft if your gums have suffered tremendous damage. If not, the dentist will sew the gums together to control bleeding and begin the healing process.

Why Should You Undergo the Osseous Surgery?

Without treatment, periodontal disease has adverse consequences on your oral health. At first, the damage is only on your gum tissue. However, as the gum pockets deepen, they trap more bacteria that eventually attack the jawbone. Soon enough, you will begin to experience symptoms like:

1. Jaw pain when you chew
2. Teeth start shifting
3. Premature tooth loss

Benefits of Osseous Surgery

Some of the benefits of undergoing an osseous surgery (pocket reduction surgery) are:

1. Protects you from experiencing permanent dental consequences like tooth loss.
2. It curbs the spread of bacterial infection in your mouth.
3. Prevents periodontitis, a more severe stage of gum disease.
4. Helps manage and treat dental cavities and abscessed teeth, typical in tooth roots.
5. Improves your smile’s aesthetics. The larger the gum pockets, the bigger your teeth look because of gum recession and exposed tooth roots.

How Long is Recovery After the Osseous Surgery?

It should take about a week before you are ready to resume normal life activities. However, proper healing may take up to one month. During recovery, our periodontist near you will tell you to anticipate some symptoms like:

1. Tooth sensitivity
2. Sore and tender gums
3. Discomfort when chewing food
4. Bleeding

Fortunately, these symptoms will only be evident for a few days after the surgery. Hardly with osseous surgery have any complications. However, some patients may experience advanced effects like:

1. Tooth loss
2. Bleeding and severe inflammation
3. Gum recession

If you experience any of such-like symptoms, call your doctor immediately for emergency dentistry. You may need a different treatment protocol to manage the symptoms.

How to Make Your Recovery Quick and Comfortable

At Designer Smiles FL, we take our time to prepare our patients thoroughly before and after treatments. The success of any procedure is highly dependent on aftercare measures. To ease your recovery period after surgery, consider the following tips:

1. Avoid Salty or Spicy Foods – they may aggravate your gums and increase your discomfort.
2. Drink a Lot of Water – it will help hydrate your mouth, flush out toxins and reduce acidity in the mouth to support speedy healing.
3. Eat Soft Foods Only – the first week is especially crucial to your recovery.
4. Eat Healthily – keep providing your body with the necessary nutrients and energy to concentrate on healing.
5. Keep Your Mouth Clean – even though teeth brushing is uncomfortable after surgery, you cannot neglect your oral health. You can use a clean cloth to clean the teeth near the surgical site. Besides, change your toothbrush to a soft-bristled one that will be gentle to your tender gums.
6. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol – as they slow down your healing pace.

Visit a Periodontist Near You

Are you looking for osseous surgery in Coral Springs, FL? Give us a call or book an appointment with us at Designer Smiles, FL today!