What does it mean to have gum flap surgery?
Gum flap surgery, also known as gingival surgery, is a procedure in which the gums are separated from the teeth and folded back temporarily to allow a dentist to reach the root of the tooth as well as the bone.
How does a periodontist remove a gingival flap?
Inflamed tissue will be eliminated from in between the teeth and from any holes (flaws) in the bone. The periodontist then will do a procedure called scaling and root planing to clean plaque and tartar. If you have bone problems, your periodontist may eliminate them.
Do you have to remove stitches after gum flap surgery?
Depending on the stitches used, you may or may not have to have them removed a week after surgery. Often, a dressing covers the surgical site to protect it. You may experience mild to moderate discomfort after surgery, for which your dentist may prescribe or suggest an over the counter pain reliever.
How long does it take for gingival flaps to heal?
After the procedure is complete, the gingival flaps are placed back in touch to the teeth and stitched back into their original position. The stitches can be either dissolvable or they have to be removed a week to 10 days after the surgery. The surgical site is usually covered with a periodontal pack or dressing to allow healing.
Gum flap surgery, also called periodontal flap surgery, is a popular procedure that treats and repairs periodontal pockets. Periodontal pockets are deep spaces below your gum line that form when gum tissue detaches from your teeth.
What should I expect after periodontal flap surgery?
Follow-up after periodontal flap surgery. Mild to moderate discomfort is expected after the procedure, especially if the pocket depth reduction procedure involves several teeth. Periodontists will usually prescribe some pain reliever after the gum surgery.
Can a bone graft be used for gingival flap surgery?
These abnormalities can be smoothed during gingival flap surgery with an osseous surgery procedure called osseous recontouring, to allow the gum tissue to reattach to healthy bone. If there is excessive bone loss the periodontist may perform a bone graft to restore the lost bone.