If you have struggled with gum disease for a prolonged period of time and it has advanced into periodontitis your dentist might refer you to a periodontist who specializes in gum surgery. Many people suffering from advanced periodontitis may have issues with their gums receding from the base of their teeth. This might also cause pockets of infection to form inside the gum tissues. If left untreated periodontitis can have very serious implications to your oral health and may even lead to tooth loss.
Gingival flap surgery is one of the more common procedures for patients with receding gums and infected pockets in the gum tissue. In this outpatient procedure the oral surgeon or periodontist makes an incision in the gums. The infected material is then removed and some of the healthy gum tissue is stretched back over the base of your teeth.
A Gingivectomy procedure is more often used to treat more severe cases of periodontitis in people with a lot of gum tissue in their smile. In this outpatient procedure the periodontist removes the infected gum tissue and removes any other infection. They will then advance some of the remaining health gum tissue back over the base of your teeth.
Gingivoplasty procedures might be called for if the gums recede too far from the teeth. In this procedure the periodontist will remove some gum tissue and then replace it with a gum graft taken from another location.
If you are concerned that your gum disease is advancing and you would like to get a better idea of your treatment options, please feel free to call us at 702-564-2526 to schedule an appointment. We want to help your healthy, beautiful smile last a lifetime!