Flap surgery
What is Flap Surgery?
- It is a type of gum procedure known as Gingival flap surgery.
- This lets a dentist to reach the root of the tooth and the bone.
- During this time, the dentist cleans the deposited tartar and hard set calculus.
When is it performed?
- To treat gum disease (periodontitis/pyorrhoea).
- It may be advised for people with moderate or advanced periodontitis.
- Generally, a treatment that doesn’t involve surgery is done first. This is called scaling and root planing. Gingival flap surgery is indicated if this treatment does not eliminate the gum infection.
- Flap surgery is done to treat gum expansion.
- If required, bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration is done along with flap surgery procedure.
How is it done?
- Local anesthesia is first given to numb the area
- The dentist will open gum. They will be folded back or lifted in the form of a flap. This gives the periodontist primary access to the roots and bone supporting the teeth.
- Inflamed tissue will be eliminated from between the teeth and from any defects in the bone.
- To clean plaque and tartar, the periodontist will then do a procedure called scaling and root planing.
- After these procedures are performed, the gums will be placed back against the teeth and stitched (sutured) in place.
- Your periodontist also may cover the surgical site with a bandage known as a periodontal pack or dressing. If the bone is deficient, then the periodontist may also put some bone grafting material there.
Bone Grafting
What is Bone Grafting?
- Bone grafting is a procedure wherein a part of the missing bone is replaced by another bone or material known as bone graft.
- Through this surgical procedure, the graft replaces the missing portion of the bone and also helps in the re-growth of the bone.
- The existing bone and the grafts fuse, after a period of a few months.
Where can it be used?
Bone grafts are usually used when the bone is missing which can happen mainly due to periodontal disease (pocket formation), accident, trauma, tumor removal or it can be congenital in nature. Bone grafts are also used with dental implants.
What is the procedure of Bone Grafting?
- A dental bone grafting procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia. With a routine flap surgical procedure, bone grafting is done at sites where it is essential to produce new bone. It is a relatively painless procedure with merest postoperative complications.
- These bone grafts, over a period of time form new bone and aid in the recovery of a periodontal defect or healing of a periodontal pocket. New bone formation also stabilizes the Implants or creates adequate bone for the installation of Dental Implants.
