Everything You Need to Know about Flap Surgery

Dental health is paramount to your overall health. In some cases, you may be unable to adhere to strict dental hygiene. Once you have poor oral hygiene, plaque builds up in your gums, causing gum disease. Once untreated, periodontal disease may have severe consequences that may necessitate a flap surgery procedure.

The dentist first uses antibiotics or conducts root scaling and planing to correct the effects of severe gum disease. If unsuccessful, the dentists recommend flap surgery. Dentists usually conduct flap surgery as a last result.

Flap surgery cleans the roots of the affected teeth and repairs bone damage. It is a delicate process that only an oral surgeon or specialist can conduct. Remarkably, the procedure requires just a single visit to the dentist. It would be best to visit a professional dental clinic that has flap surgery as one of their services.

Flap surgery procedure

Flap surgery is painless because local anesthesia is used when performing it. In some cases, oral surgeons accompany local anesthesia with oral anti-anxiety medications. Otherwise, they use intravenous conscious sedation.

Once the dentist administers the anesthesia, they create a small incision between the tooth and the gum to access the roots. The outer gums are folded gently until the root, supporting ligaments, and bone tissue are visible. The dentist removes the inflamed gum tissue, plaque, and tartar.

The dentist cleans the tooth roots thoroughly. If need be, the area is treated with antibiotics and other medications. If there are existing bone defects, they are repaired with grafting material. Also, the dentists can perform a procedure called osseous recontouring in some cases. The process smooths the bone defects and prevents the infection from recurring.

Gum specialists recommend proper regeneration of the periodontal ligament by chemical invocation and physical techniques such as barrier membranes. The incision is then closed, and the procedure is complete.

Do you require flap surgery?

Not everyone is a candidate for flap surgery. The flap surgery procedure is conducted on patients with moderate to severe periodontitis that’s not responsive to regular non-surgical medication.

Flap surgery removes the bacteria that has accumulated between the teeth and the gum resulting in gum disease. If the bone tissues are damaged, a particular restorative procedure is conducted. A dentist recommends whether you require flap surgery following a thorough oral examination in your initial consultation.

Risks

• The sensitivity of your teeth may increase
• The shape of your gums may change
• Failure to take antibiotics after the procedure may introduce harmful bacteria into your bloodstream
• Gum disease may occur once again should you relapse on your dental hygiene

After surgery tips

Following a successful flap surgery procedure, you take several days to recover. To ensure a seamless recovery, you should follow some tips recommended by your oral surgeon or dentist. They include:

• Take painkillers as prescribed
• Use ice cubes or a cold pack on your cheeks to relieve pain and minimize swelling
• Change gauze pads frequently
• After 24 hours, gargle with salt water gently to minimize swelling and relieve pain
• Avoid strenuous physical activity
• Use pillows to prop your head to minimize lying flat, which may trigger bleeding
• Avoid eating solid food during the first few days after the surgery
• Do not drink alcohol or smoke

Is flap surgery effective?

The effectiveness of flap surgery is conditional. It’s 100% effective if you maintain good oral hygiene after the surgery. Your gum health is fully restored, and your gums turn pink.

Conclusion

Periodontal disease is common and has very severe consequences. If left untreated, it may lead to tooth loss. At Concord Woods Dental Group, they offer flap surgery services. They have a team of skilled dentists and gum specialists. You will receive complete treatment for all phases of gum disease. You get excellent aftercare instructions to ensure you fully understand your dental hygiene, and you steer clear of gum disease.