Knoxville, TN periodontist Dr. Robert Cain specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating gum disease. Osseous surgery is an innovative new way to remove infected gum tissue from the mouth. Dr. Cain recommends this periodontal surgery to his patients that suffer from gum disease.
What is Periodontitis?
The gum tissue and bone should fit snugly around the teeth in a normal, healthy mouth. This is what creates a protective barrier from bacteria. People who do not follow good oral health routines and do not visit their dentist regularly risk developing gum disease.
Gingivitis is an early-stage gum disease and is easy to treat but may require additional at-home care to prevent it from returning. Patients with recurring gingivitis may benefit from more frequent dental cleanings in our dental office. If left untreated, gingivitis will develop into periodontitis.
Periodontitis is the advanced form of gum disease and has the potential to cause a lot of damage to your bone, teeth, and gums. The tissue around your teeth begins to deteriorate, causing pockets to form. Without immediate attention, the pockets get deeper and deeper, making them a breeding ground for debris and bacteria. Plaque and tartar can form in the periodontal pockets, causing teeth to become loose.
Osseous Surgery
Reducing the size of the periodontal pockets and eliminating the bacteria is important to preventing and reducing the chances of major damage caused by the progression of gum disease. Osseous surgery may help mend the infected area, promote healing, and prevent further damage.
This is a patient’s best chance at avoiding tooth loss. We perform this surgery once all other options for periodontitis treatment have been used.
Before your surgery, Dr. Cain may perform a root planing and scaling procedure. This intensive dental cleaning reduces the size of the periodontal pockets and removes bacteria from the gums. Dr. Cain will use special tools to scrape away plaque and tartar buildup and remove bacteria from the deep gum pockets where it forms.
What are the Benefits of Osseous Surgery?
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- Reduces the spread of bacteria
- Stops the progression of bone loss
- Healthier mouth and smile
- Saved from a possible tooth extraction
- Gums won’t bleed and will become healthier
Do I Need Osseous Surgery?
We don’t perform osseous surgery unless non-surgical gum disease treatment is no longer an option. Your gums are supposed to fit snugly against your bones and teeth. When you have gum disease, gum pockets develop as the gum tissue pulls away from your teeth. Without treatment, the gum pockets continue to get deeper and more plaque, tartar, and debris build up in them. Until a certain point, scaling and root planing can manage the condition.
However, osseous surgery is needed when the bacteria are impacting your mouth under the gumline. Once they’re at this point, they contribute to serious tissue and bone loss. This surgery can completely clean out these gum pockets and direct gum tissue to reattach to the bone.
What to Expect
We perform osseous surgery under local anesthetic so that you will feel no pain or discomfort during the procedure. Dr. Cain will carefully open the gum tissue and push it away from the teeth so that he can properly remove the excess buildup of plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth.
Dr. Cane softly reshapes and molds the bone to create a smoother base. Reshaping the bone helps heal the affected teeth and eliminates areas where bacteria can prosper. It also helps your gum tissue reattach to healthy bone more effectively. Once the bone is reshaped, the gums are carefully stitched. In some cases, the bone can be regenerated using bone grafting or Oral Tissue Regeneration.
After your surgery, you may experience some pain and swelling. We recommend applying an ice pack to the outside of your face to help with discomfort. Dr. Cain will schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure everything is healing properly.
We may remove them if they don’t dissolve independently. Dr. Cain may suggest a professional cleaning to keep the site clean and bacteria-free.
Osseus Surgery FAQs
Read answers to common patient questions about osseous surgery in Knoxville, TN:
Is osseous surgery painful?
Any time surgery is mentioned, people get some anxiety about whether or not it’s going to hurt. But the surgery isn’t painful. We use both a topical and a local anesthetic on the entire area impacted by the surgery. Our office also offers multiple forms of sedation dentistry so that you can relax more during your treatment. We want to ensure you’re comfortable throughout.
Do your gums grow back after osseous surgery?
No, once the gums recede, they don’t grow back. We’ll examine how serious your gum recession is. Depending on the severity, we’ll recommend that you get a gum graft to restore healthy tissue in that area.
How long does it take to recover from osseous surgery?
It can take a month for you to fully recover. It all depends on the extent of the surgery. Some will heal more quickly than others. We recommend that you stick to a soft food diet for at least two weeks after your surgery. This helps your mouth heal and prevents any further trauma from taking place.
What should you avoid after osseous surgery?
You should be especially cautious during the 48 hour period after your surgery. That’s when things are the most sensitive and when you have the biggest risk of infection. Don’t smoke or drink through a straw for these 48 hours. You should also avoid carbonated or alcoholic drinks. Stick to soft foods for around two weeks. Don’t eat foods that are very spicy or acidic and avoid foods and drinks that are very hot or very cold. Eat food that’s cut into easier pieces to consume.
Can I go to work the next day after osseous surgery?
Most people need at least 1 to 2 days off to rest and heal. You can experience swelling and minor bleeding after treatment. Your body also needs time to heal. If you have a physical job, we recommend that you return to work after 3 to 5 days. Lifting, bending, or stress could slow healing or cause bleeding.
How do you clean your teeth after osseous surgery?
Your mouth is incredibly sensitive after this surgery. We’ll give you an extra-soft toothbrush so that you can brush your teeth extremely gently. After your post-operation appointment, we’ll give you the okay to resume your normal oral healthcare routine.
How do I know if I need osseous surgery or LANAP?
Both procedures treat gum disease, but they work differently. Osseous surgery is best for moderate to severe gum disease with deep pockets (spaces between gums and teeth) and bone loss.
You may need this surgery if:
- Gums are pulling away from teeth (receding).
- You have loose teeth from bone loss.
- Deep cleaning (scaling) didn’t fix the problem.
LANAP, or laser gum surgery, is a non-invasive option for mild to moderate gum disease.
You can benefit from LANAP if:
- You have bleeding/swollen gums but less bone loss.
- You want faster healing (LANAP usually hurts less than traditional surgery).
- You’re nervous about scalpels (the laser is gentler).
Dr. Cain will review your symptoms and
How successful is osseous surgery?
Osseous surgery is an extremely effective treatment option for advanced gum disease. However, you have to keep up with maintenance after the surgery to ensure that you’re getting the best results. Gum disease can return or worsen if you aren’t taking care of your gums the way you should.
Schedule a Consultation
Are you concerned about the state of your oral health? Call us at (865) 276-7173 or schedule an appointment online to get started.
