Osseous Surgery

Effective Gum Disease Treatment for Moderate to Severe Cases

If you have moderate to severe gum disease, one of our doctors may recommend osseous surgery as part of your treatment plan. This is a more aggressive periodontal treatment and is usually performed as a last resort when other treatments have proved unsuccessful. It is a time-tested and effective method that can help save healthy teeth and also restore the health of your gums. Patients who have significant tooth decay below the gum line because of gum disease are usually good candidates for this procedure.

Osseous Surgery Improves More than Oral Health

Osseous surgery aims to clear the mouth of disease-causing bacteria, eliminate periodontal pockets where bacteria are allowed to grow and reduce the risk of further damage to gums, supporting tissues and overall health. Gum disease has been linked to serious systemic issues such as heart disease, stroke and certain cancers, so treatment can improve more than just the health of your smile.

The Osseous Surgery Process

The goal of this procedure is to clear all traces of the infection and remove tooth decay below the gum line. It involves:

• Carefully lifting gum tissue away from the teeth and bone
• Thoroughly cleaning the root surface of the teeth
• Smoothing and shaping the bone to encourage gum reattachment
• Trimming gum tissue to match new structure
• Stitching the gum tissue in place
• Monitoring gums during the healing process