Does Osseous Surgery Work?

A common dental treatment, osseous surgery, is designed to get rid of bacteria and infection hidden beneath your gums. The surgery helps treat gum disease when it has become more severe and cannot be treated with professional dental cleanings and at-home oral hygiene. If your dentist has recently mentioned osseous surgery to you, you may be seeking more information. Below we provide details on the procedure, how to prepare, and the benefits you can expect.

What is Osseous Surgery?

Osseous surgery, also called pocket reduction surgery, is a gum disease treatment performed by periodontists to treat moderate to severe periodontitis. The primary goal of the procedure is to reduce the pockets that have developed along the gumline. These pockets are caused by advanced gum disease, when bacteria-filled plaque has built up along the gumline. These pockets become a hiding place for more plaque and bacteria. If these pockets and gum disease are left untreated, they can lead to a number of oral health issues, like gum recession and tooth loss, and more serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

How Should I Prepare for Osseous Surgery?

If your treatment plan includes osseous surgery, your provider will help you prepare for the procedure. You should continue to take your prescription medications unless your periodontist tells you otherwise, but they may ask you to stop taking blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants), like aspirin or warfarin they days immediately before the surgery. It also helps to eat a balanced meal before the procedure, as afterwards your mouth will be tender and eating will be difficult. You will also want to plan ahead and have a trusted friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment if your procedure involves sedation.

What Happens During Osseous Surgery?

There are two main types of osseous surgery that your provider may perform. Understanding which approach your provider will use will help you prepare for what to expect during the procedure. In a traditional osseous surgery, the periodontist will make incisions in the gums to access the tooth roots, allowing them to reshape the bone and remove bacteria from below the gumline. The alternative to traditional surgery is laser osseous surgery. This newer method uses a laser to kill bacteria around your teeth without impacting the healthy gum tissue.

If your provider is going to perform a traditional osseous surgery, you can expect the following steps:

They will start by giving you anesthesia to numb your teeth and gums.
Next, they will make an incision (cut) along your gumline and carefully fold back your gums so they can see your tooth roots.
They will clean the dental plaque and bacteria off your tooth root surfaces.
Next, they will smooth and reshape the bone around your teeth.
Last, they will reposition your gums and stitch them closed.