Gum Flap Surgery : Everything You Need to Know

Gum Flap Surgery : Everything You Need to Know

Your 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 planning to correct the effects of severe gum disease. If unsuccessful, the dentists recommend flap surgery.

Dentists usually conduct flap surgery as a last resort.

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, it takes 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.

Gum Flap Surgery: What to Expect Flap surgery is only necessary when you have gum disease. It’s mainly used when your condition has advanced to a severe stage known as periodontitis. However, flap surgery can also be used for cosmetic purposes to improve a gummy smile.

Common reasons for flap surgery include: ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Excessive gum tissues or short teeth Inflamed gums that bleed easily and excessively Tooth mobility or change in how teeth fit together Tooth sensitivity Severe gum recession Persistent halitosis or bad breath Severe tooth pain or sensitivity

Once you visit our dentist, they will inspect your gum and mouth for signs of gum disease. They might take X-rays and measurements of your pockets to determine whether flap surgery is right for you.

Typically, the gum flap surgery procedure involves the following steps: ● Anesthesia administration. The dentist or periodontist will begin by numbing you to reduce anxiety and prevent pain. ● Tissue incision and removal. The dentist makes small flap-like incisions on the gums to allow the removal of the diseased tissues from the pockets. It also provides access to the teeth’s root and bone tissues. It will enable the dentist to perform root planning and scaling to eliminate bacterial plaque and tartar.

The gum tissues attach to the teeth firmly. ● Close the flap. After removing the infection, the dentist will close the flap and stitch the incisions for faster healing. Some dentists use fibrin glue in place of sutures.

How long does swelling last after flap surgery?

After flap surgery, you may experience some soreness, pain, and swelling once the anesthesia wears off. Fortunately, your dentist will prescribe painkillers, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medication to manage these symptoms for faster healing and to prevent infections.

Generally, swelling and other symptoms will subside within a week or so. Along with the medication, follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions strictly. Other tips to promote faster healing and recovery after a flap surgery: ● Rest adequately. Strenuous activities can cause pressure on the surgical site, aggravating your pain, swelling, and bleeding. ● Keep the gauze in place until the bleeding stops. ● Keep your head elevated with a soft pillow. ● Use a cold or hot compress on the face next to the surgical area ● Take a soft-food diet. Avoid hot, spicy, hard, crunchy, acidic, and chewy foods. ● Avoid tobacco products and alcoholic beverages. ● Use saltwater rinses after 24 hours. ● Maintain excellent oral hygiene. ● Avoid spitting or sucking. ● Notify your dentist if symptoms worsen or persist more than normal.

What is involved in open-flap periodontal surgery?

The primary purpose of flap surgery is to remove or decrease the pocket. A flap-like incision in the gum tissue is created to access the pocket. This makes it possible to

remove the diseased tissue from the pocket and adequately clean the root surfaces of the teeth, which aids in the removal of toxic plaque and tartar. After that, the dentist will close the flap and seal the area. This starts the healing process, which happens soon after.

Flap surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia, with or without anti-anxiety medicines; however, it can also be done under intravenous conscious sedation. The duration of the operation is determined by the extent of the damage and the gum areas affected. During surgery, anesthesia will keep patients pain-free. Medication might be used to relieve pain and discomfort following the surgery.

Best Flap Surgery At Bangalore Dental Solutions At Bangalore Dental Solutions and Implant Center, we do pain-free laser assisted Flap Surgery. Dr. Balasubramanya is a highly qualified Periodontist & Laser Dentist whose success rate at this kind of surgery is high.