Osseous Surgery
Rockwall & Paris, Texas
Also known as pocket reduction surgery, osseous surgery may be performed to remove bacterial plaque and calculus (or tartar) that has accumulated in the pockets of your gums if less invasive treatments like a scaling and root planning procedure or use of the perioscope are not successful in treating and correcting gum disease. While other, less invasive treatment options are generally preferred, osseous surgery may be the best treatment option for patients whose periodontal disease has progressed to the point to where it is quite severe and the bone loss is advanced.
We will do everything we can to correct your oral health issues using conservative treatments, but there are times when a procedure like osseous surgery is the best available treatment option to restore your oral health. To learn more about osseous surgery or other services offered at our office, please refer to the following. To schedule an appointment to discuss osseous surgery or other gum disease treatment option, contact our Rockwall office today at (972) 771-8640 or our Paris office at (903) 785-4832.
Osseous Surgery
Treatment & Process
To determine if osseous surgery is necessary, we will use a thin probe to measure the depth of your gum pockets, which are spaces between the gum and tooth that form and deepen due to gum and bone being destroyed. A healthy gum pocket should not be deeper than 4mm. Pockets that are between 4-6mm in depth indicate early to moderate periodontitis, and pockets deeper than 7mm indicate severe periodontitis. Once this examination is complete, we will explain our findings, discuss available treatment options for your condition, offer advice on the best path forward, answer any questions you may have, and schedule a follow up appointment.
If it is determined that osseous surgery is the best treatment option for you, the procedure will begin with administration of a local anesthetic to ensure you do not experience any 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 numbed and comfortable, we will make an incision and tease back your gums in the area in order to access the tooth. Once accessible, we will use special instruments to remove the calculus from the root and recontour and trim any areas of the bone that are irregularly shaped or damaged due to the destructive gum disease process. Bone grafts and/or guided tissue regeneration may also be used for areas that are severely damaged. Once this is done, we will close the area and the surgery will be complete.
Osseous Surgery
Aftercare Instructions
Following osseous surgery, it is essential to closely follow aftercare instructions to avoid developing complications and have a fast recovery process. You will likely not experience any discomfort during the procedure, due to the use of anesthetics, but may begin to feel some discomfort a few hours after the surgery is complete. This can often be managed with over-the-counter or prescription strength pain relief medications. Moderate swelling may also occur, but this can be managed with ice therapy and should subside after a few days.
A follow-up appointment will likely be scheduled within two weeks of the surgery. During this time, you may be prescribed a round of antibiotics to help to avoid developing an infection. It may also be necessary to follow a soft food diet for some time after osseous surgery and avoid intense exercise for some time. Smoking should also be avoided throughout the recovery period. Provided you follow these aftercare instructions, your recovery process should involve minimal discomfort and be free of complications.
Osseous Surgery
Pros & Cons
If you are concerned about having osseous surgery performed, please let us know. We will do everything we can to answer your questions and help alleviate your concerns. As you consider whether to move forward with the procedure or not, it may be helpful to consider the advantages that come with having osseous surgery and weigh those against the disadvantages.
Pros
- Will preserve your healthy gum tissue
- Extremely effective
- Long lasting results, provided you follow good oral hygiene habits
- Preserves healthy gum tissue
- Will correct issues associated with gum disease, such as bleeding gums or chronic halitosis
Cons
- May slightly change the appearance of your gums and your smile
- May not be as effective as the Perioscope for particular areas
- Longer recovery process compared to using the Perioscope
- May increase tooth sensitivity
Osseous Surgery
Costs associated
The total cost of the procedure will depend primarily on whether additional procedures need to be performed and whether procedure is covered by your insurance. It is also important to factor in the cost of the initial visit and any follow up appointments that may be necessary.
For patients with dental insurance, 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-month payment plans with zero interest, as well as low-interest financing for 24-60 months.
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