Gum Surgery
Rockwall & Paris, Texas
Gum surgery is recommended for patients whose gum disease has progressed to the point where alternative treatment options are no longer a viable option. In its earliest form (gingivitis), gum disease can typically be treated with a deep cleaning along with modifications to your daily hygiene routine. If gum disease progresses and reaches the stage of periodontitis, more intensive interventions may be necessary, such as gum surgery.
While gum surgery can be performed to halt and reverse periodontal disease, it can also be performed for cosmetic reasons. To learn more about gum surgery, please refer to the following. To schedule an appointment for an evaluation, contact our Rockwall office today at (972) 771-8640 or our Paris office at (903) 785-4832.
Gum Surgery
Our Consultation & Process
An initial consultation will be necessary to identify whether gum surgery is necessary, and if so, the underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Once we have determined the cause and severity of your case, we will explain our findings, discuss available treatment options, offer advice on the best path forward, and answer any questions you may have.
Before gum surgery is performed, we will first clean your teeth and administer a local anesthetic to ensure you experience minimal discomfort. We also offer several different dental sedation options, including oral and IV sedation to ensure you are calm and comfortable throughout the procedure. Once you are comfortable and sufficiently numbed, the gum surgery procedure will begin.
Although every patient will have a slightly different experience, there is usually minimal to no pain during the procedure, thanks to the use of anesthetics. Following your gum surgery, you may have some mild to moderate pain, but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relief medications and on occasion prescription pain medication. Moderate swelling may also occur, but this can be managed with ice therapy and should subside after a few days. Additional aftercare instructions may be provided following your gum surgery which should be followed closely to avoid developing complications and ensure a fast recovery process.
A follow-up appointment is often scheduled two weeks following gum surgery. During this time, you may be prescribed a round of antibiotics and instructed to use an antiseptic mouthwash or gel help in keeping the treated area clean and to avoid developing an infection. It may also be necessary to follow a soft cool diet for some time after your gum surgery and avoid exercise for some time. Smoking should also be avoided throughout the recovery period as well.
Gum Surgery
Options & Types of Procedures
There are several different types of gum surgeries that can be performed. Which surgical procedure is right for you will depend on the severity of your gum disease, what kind of damage has been done, and your desired cosmetic outcome.
The most common types of gum surgery include:
- Gingival Flap Surgery: To perform a deep surgical cleaning, your gums are separated from the teeth, the cleaning performed, then the gums are stitched back into place. Bone reshaping may also be necessary during this procedure to correct the damage caused by gum disease.
- Gingivectomy: Overgrown and excess gum tissue is removed using a laser, scalpel or both to improve the cosmetic appearance of your smile and to help with cleansibility to reduce your risk of developing gum disease.
- Gingivoplasty: Cosmetic procedure that reshapes healthy gum tissue to improve the aesthetic appearances. May be performed following a gum graft procedure.
- Gum Graft: Grafting material is placed over the area of recession to reduce sensitivity and reduce your risk of gum disease and/or tooth loss.
- Bone Regeneration: After teasing back the gums and removing the bacterial plaque and tartar from the tooth, tissue-stimulating proteins, membranes, or bone grafts are inserted into the defects in the bone to help regenerate gum tissue and bone around the teeth.
Aftercare
Following Gum Surgery
Brushing and flossing daily and scheduling regular checkups are extremely important to maintain healthy teeth and gums. By following these consistent oral hygiene routines, you will significantly reduce your risk of requiring gum surgery. Scheduling regular examinations at least every six months also decreases your risk of developing issues and ensures that we can monitor the health of your gums and teeth and address issues that, if left unchecked, may result in the need for gum surgery.
Gum Surgery
Alternatives
Although gum surgery can be a very effective treatment option, there may be alternative treatments that can provide equally good results without the need for surgery. If gum surgery is recommended because you have receding gums, a procedure called the “Tunnelling” Technique may be an option. This procedure involves making small tunnel in your gums next to the tooth through which a special instrument is used to move your gums to the desired proper position. Once in place, donor tissue is used to stabilize the new gum position.
If gum surgery is recommended to treat gum disease, you may be able to achieve the same results nonsurgically with help of Perioscopy (video perioscope). Unlike traditional gum surgery, Perioscopy targets and eliminates bacteria and removes diseased tissue nonsurgically with direct and magnified visualization of the diseased root surface, which allows for the gums to reattach to the tooth.
Gum Surgery
costs associated
The cost of your gum surgery will depend on the severity of your case, the number of appointments necessary, and whether dental sedation is necessary. For patients who are covered under a dental insurance plan, although we are not in-network, we will gladly help prepare and file your claim to ensure you receive your maximum reimbursement. Payment is due in full on the day of treatment. We accept cash, check, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and American Express. If you are concerned about the cost of receiving treatment, please know that we offer our patients Compassionate Finance, which offers a variety of payment solutions with fixed interest rates and manageable monthly payments and CareCredit®, which offers 24-monty payment plans with zero interest, as well as low-interest financing for 24-60 months.
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