Improve Your Dental Health with Osseous Surgery in Tacoma
At Sound Surgical Arts, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional dental care that goes beyond treating symptoms to address the root causes of oral health issues. One such advanced treatment we provide is osseous surgery, a procedure utilized to treat periodontitis and improve the overall health of both your teeth and gums. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about osseous surgery and how our team at Sound Surgical Arts can help you attain optimal dental health.
What is Osseous Surgery?
Osseous surgery, also known as pocket reduction surgery or flap surgery, is a periodontal procedure performed to smooth and reshape the affected bone surrounding your teeth. This surgical intervention is beneficial in cases of advanced periodontitis, which is a severe gum infection that damages the gums and can destroy the jawbone if left untreated. By recontouring the bone and surrounding tissue, osseous surgery can reduce pocket depth, halt the progression of periodontitis, and restore the functionality and appearance of your teeth.
When is Osseous Surgery Required?
Your dentist may recommend osseous surgery if you suffer from advanced periodontitis that cannot be improved through non-surgical means, such as scaling and root planing. Typical signs that you may require osseous surgery include:
- Deep periodontal pockets (greater than 4-6 millimeters)
- Persistent bleeding or inflammation despite non-surgical interventions
- Presence of tartar beneath the gumline
- Tooth mobility or shifting
- Bone loss evident on dental X-rays
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, it’s essential to schedule a consultation with the expert team at Sound Surgical Arts. Our experienced professionals will assess your oral health and determine the most appropriate treatments for your specific needs.
The Osseous Surgery Procedure at Sound Surgical Arts
At Sound Surgical Arts, we utilize state-of-the-art technology and innovative techniques to ensure our patients receive the highest quality of care. Our osseous surgery procedure typically involves the following steps:
- Anesthesia To guarantee your comfort throughout the procedure, we’ll administer a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area.
- Flap Incision Our skilled oral surgeon will make small incisions around the affected teeth, enabling them to lift the gums and access the underlying bone and tooth roots.
- Root Cleaning and Disease Removal Our team will carefully clean the tooth roots, removing tartar and any signs of infection.
- Bone Reshaping Utilizing precise surgical instruments, our oral surgeon will smooth the surface of the affected bone, eliminating any irregularities that can harbor bacteria and contribute to periodontal disease.
- Gums Reattachment Once the bone has been reshaped, our surgeon will reposition the gums to fit snugly around your teeth, reducing pocket depth and promoting a healthy healing environment.
- Sutures and Aftercare Finally, our team will close the incisions with sutures and provide detailed instructions to facilitate a successful recovery.
What to Expect After Osseous Surgery
Following osseous surgery, you can expect some swelling and discomfort, which can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and prescribed medications. Most patients can return to their regular routines within a few days, with full recovery often taking several weeks.
It’s important to follow our aftercare instructions closely and maintain a rigorous oral hygiene routine, including regular dental checkups, to ensure the long-term success of your treatment.
Discover a Healthier Smile with Sound Surgical Arts
If you suspect you may require osseous surgery to combat advanced periodontitis, don’t wait to take the first step towards improved dental health. Reach out to Sound Surgical Arts today to schedule a consultation with our highly skilled team, and let us help you rediscover the confidence that comes with a healthy, beaming smile.
Osseous Surgery / Pocket Reduction
Many times, the early stages of periodontal disease are best treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy. Even in severe cases, non-surgical periodontal therapy often precedes surgical therapy. This is done to improve the overall tissue quality prior to surgery and also to help limit the areas requiring surgery.
Osseous surgery, sometimes referred to as pocket reduction surgery, refers to a number of different surgeries aimed at gaining access to the tooth roots to remove tartar and disease-causing bacteria.
Goals Of Osseous Surgery
Osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the bone surrounding the teeth. It is a common necessity in effective treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases. The ultimate goal of osseous surgery is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal disease. Despite the word “surgery” the procedure is reported to feel more like a thorough cleaning.
The specific goals of pocket reduction osseous surgery include:
- Reducing Bacterial Spread:
Bacteria from the mouth can spread throughout the body and cause other life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and respiratory disease. Removing deep tartar and thereby bacteria can help reduce the risk of bacteria spreading. - Preventing Bone Loss:
The immune system’s inflammatory response prompted by periodontal bacteria can lead to bone loss in the jaw region, and cause teeth to fall out. Osseous surgery seeks to stop periodontal disease before it progresses to this level. - Enhancing the Smile:
Mouths plagued with periodontal disease are often unsightly. Brown gums, rotting teeth, and ridge indentations can leave a person feeling depressed and too self-conscious to smile. Fortunately, osseous surgery can help reduce bacteria and disease and thereby restore your mouth to its former radiance, while restoring confidence at the same time. - Facilitating Home Care:
As the gum pocket deepens, it can become nearly impossible to brush and floss adequately. Osseous surgery reduces pocket size, making it easier to brush and floss, and thereby prevent further periodontal disease.