Gum Surgery & Periodontal Treatment in South Delhi

Gum Surgery

If you’ve recently been told by your dentist or gum doctor (Periodontist) that you need a gum graft, don’t panic. Gum surgery sounds worse than it is. A gum graft may be necessary to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of gum recession, or you may choose to have one to improve the appearance of your smile.

Gum recession is the process in which the tissue that surrounds the teeth pulls away from a tooth, exposing more of the tooth or the tooth’s root. This can cause damage to supporting bone. Gum recession is a common dental problem; it affects 4% to 12% of adults and often goes unnoticed until it becomes more severe.

Many people don’t even notice that their gums have receded, because it is a gradual process. However, over time, an exposed tooth root can not only look unattractive, but can cause tooth sensitivity, especially when eating cold or hot foods. Eventually, gum recession, if not treated, can cause tooth loss. To repair the damage and prevent further dental problems, a gum tissue graft may be needed.

Types of Gum Surgery

If you’ve developed gum disease severe enough to require surgery, your dentist may discuss some of these types of gum surgery as ways to treat the problem:

• Pocket reduction (also known as gingival flap surgery). In this procedure, your surgeon folds back the gums and removes bacteria. The Periodontist (gum specialist) secures the gum tissue against your teeth, rather than allowing it to grow back on its own.
• Regeneration. In this procedure, your Periodontist folds back the gums and removes disease-causing bacteria, then inserts bone grafts, membranes, or tissue-stimulating proteins (or any combination of the three) to encourage your gum tissues to regenerate and fit snugly around the teeth again.
• Crown lengthening. In this procedure, your Periodontist removes an overgrowth of gum tissue from your teeth, making your teeth appear longer. This procedure is used for cosmetic effects as well as to treat gum disease.
• Soft tissue graft. In this procedure, your Periodontist takes sample tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and attaches it to your gums to replace gum tissue that has receded or has been removed due to gum disease. This procedure is often used for cosmetic purposes as well as to treat gum disease because it covers areas where the root is becoming exposed and improves the appearance of the teeth.

Before Surgery Is Considered

Surgery is not the first step. Most gum problems are managed non-surgically to begin with: a thorough professional cleaning, scaling and root planing to remove plaque and hardened tartar from below the gum line, and coaching on brushing and cleaning between the teeth. Your gums are then re-assessed after a few weeks. Surgery is planned only for the sites where deep pockets, ongoing bleeding or continuing bone loss remain after that, and for recession that needs to be covered.

Recovery After Gum Surgery

Gum surgery is carried out under local anaesthesia, so the procedure itself is not painful. Afterwards, expect some tenderness, minor swelling and a little bleeding for a day or two. Stick to soft, cool food, avoid brushing the surgical site directly until you are told it is safe, and use any mouthrinse or medication exactly as prescribed. Smoking markedly slows gum healing, so stopping, even for the healing period, makes a real difference to the outcome. Most people return to normal activity the next day and come back for a review a week or two later.