What To Expect From Periodontal Surgery

If you have problems with your gum tissue, you may need to undergo surgical services. The procedure would depend upon what kind of treatment you would need, such as gum or bone grafting. Here at Coastal Periodontics, we want our patients to be educated about what to expect from their surgery.

Why Might I Need Gum Surgery?

The health of your gums is absolutely vital to the health of your teeth. This is because the gums provide support to your teeth and keep them stable and stationary. If you experience gum disease that goes untreated for too long, it may turn into a case of periodontal disease and the gums will begin to recede. This means they will pull back from the teeth, causing the teeth to become loose or even fall out.

Less severe cases of gum disease, like gingivitis, can be treated more easily. But once the disease progresses too far and becomes infected, the treatment becomes more difficult and extensive.

Treatment For Periodontal Disease:

• Gum grafts to replace and strengthen weakened gum tissue
• A deep cleaning underneath and around the gums called ‘root planing and scaling’
• Flap surgery, used to treat any pockets that form around the teeth, causing them to loosen

Surgery Aftercare

After your surgery, you will receive instructions from our office on how best to care for your mouth. This might include prescriptions for antibiotics or painkillers, depending on the surgery you received. You may also need to use a prescription mouthwash, as you’ll need to avoid flossing and brushing for a time after surgery.

In the days and weeks after surgery, avoid food or drinks that are too hot, hard, or chewy. If you have any notable or unusual symptoms, such as fever, swelling, or excessive bleeding, please contact our office right away.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Coastal Periodontics, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.