Osseous surgery (pocket reduction surgery or gingivectomy) is a procedure that removes gum tissue that has been affected by periodontal disease. The gums and bone are the foundation of our teeth. In periodontal disease, the bacterial buildup in plaque spreads and causes inflammation throughout the gums and bone. This creates a space (pocketing) between the teeth, bone and gums. Deep pockets can’t be adequately cleaned by both patient and dental clinician. As a result, over time, as the bacterial inflammation spreads, the disease process further destroys the foundation of the teeth, causing them to become loose, and potentially be extracted. Therefore, the ultimate goal of osseous surgery is to eliminate or reduce the deep pockets in order to resolve the inflammation and make the teeth amenable to cleaning by both the patient and dental clinician.

What does the procedure entail?

First, the diseased area will be anesthetized with local anesthetic. When the area is fully numb, Dr. Kashlan will reflect back the damaged tissues to access the bone and roots of the teeth for cleaning and recontouring. This allows the gums to be sutured back and heal at a lower level which makes the entire tooth and its foundation amenable to adequate cleaning by the patient and dental clinician.

After the procedure:

Once the procedure is completed, Dr. Kashlan will prescribe all the appropriate medication to manage the discomfort. The sutures will be removed in 10 – 14 days or dissolve on their own before then.

Maintenance (“Once a periodontal patient, always a periodontal patient.”):

Three month periodontal maintenance visits are required in order to allow Dr. Kashlan to evaluate the bone and gums to maintain optimal periodontal health and to check for any areas where periodontal disease has relapsed.