Gum disease can cause serious problems for both your mouth and body. If untreated, gum disease can result in large scale tooth loss, making day-to-day life difficult and frustrating. If that were not enough, gum disease also puts people at an increased risk for other health problems including heart disease and strokes. In cases of periodontal disease, gum surgery can help manage the disease and improve oral health. However, some patients find surgery daunting, so to help ease any misgivings, your Allen dentist, Dr. Marco Cueva, tells you what to expect from gum surgery.
Gum Surgery: The Objective
As gum disease progresses, pockets form between the gums and the teeth, and bacteria attack teeth-supporting ligaments and tissues. As the tissues and ligaments are damaged, the pockets become enlarged and harbor more and more bacteria. When the pockets reach a certain size, a pocket reduction procedure becomes necessary because the pockets are too deep to clean with the combination of daily homecare and professional cleaning. The objective of this procedure is to remove harmful bacteria and secure gum tissue in place to reduce the size of the pockets.
Gum Surgery: The Procedure
When performing gum surgery, your Allen dentist, Dr. Cueva, will fold back the gum tissue to access the bacteria within each pocket. Having accessed the bacteria, he will remove it using special instruments and then secure the tissue in place. During the procedure, Dr. Cueva may also smooth any irregular surfaces of the damaged bone. Doing so allows the gum tissues to reattach to the bone more easily and eliminates hiding places for harmful bacteria.
Schedule a Visit with Your Allen Dentist
If you struggle with gum disease, gum surgery may be able to remove harmful bacteria, reduce pocket depth, and improve your oral health. To find out more about the procedure or to schedule an appointment or a consultation, contact your Allen dentist, Dr. Cueva, today by calling 972-390-9944. Located in the 75013 area, we welcome patients from Allen, Plano, Richardson, McKinney, Frisco, Fairview, Murphy, Wylie, Lewisville, Carrolton, and surrounding communities.
