Surgery for Advanced Periodontitis

Tartar buildup at the gum line and poor oral hygiene can develop into the advanced form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Without timely resolution the infection and subsequent inflammation can cause your gums to recede from your teeth. This often forms pockets in the gum tissue near the roots of your teeth. This will slowly cause a loss of material in the bones that anchor your teeth in your mouth.

A gingivoplasty surgery is one method of resolution for people with large gums that suffer from advanced periodontitis.

Most gingivoplasty surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis and often require deep sedation. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you. It would also be helpful if you had someone at home for a day or two while you back on your feet.

During the procedure, an oral surgeon removes the infected gum tissues. This allows them to clean the affected tissues. The surgeon will then take some healthy gum tissue from another location in your mouth and graft it to the area where the infected gum tissue was removed.

The surgeon will usually prescribe antibiotics, pain killers or anti-inflammatory medication to help deal with discomfort or any lingering infection during the recovery period. Proper aftercare is absolutely essential for successful implantation of the grafted gum tissues.

If you have gum disease, or receding gums and you are concerned that you might need a procedure to resolve it, please feel free to call us at 269-964-7660 to schedule an appointment.