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Do you notice odd-shaped bumps along your gum line? Is there a yellowy, hard substance present between the surface of your teeth and gums? These are signs that bacteria are growing in the natural pockets between your teeth and gums. It needs to be taken care of straight away to prevent bacterial infection from spreading to your blood or even traveling to your heart and causing your heart valves to fail.
If you are nervous about visiting a dentist, let the friendly, knowledgeable periodontist like Dr. Gregory Meyers of Pinole Periodontics and Dental Implants examine you and recommend treatment.
Osseous Surgery in Pinole, CA
Gum disease starts when bacteria in your mouth grow out of control. Bacteria usually congregate in a naturally occurring pocket between teeth and gums. If not removed by daily brushing and flossing, bacteria damage the underlying gum tissue, creating deep pockets that cannot be cleaned out by regular brushing or even by visiting a dental hygienist.
After some time, the unchecked bacteria damage the jaw bone and cause tooth decay or tooth loss. The infected jaw bone develops overlying growths and becomes “bumpy” in appearance. At this stage, only osseous surgery can restore healthy gum and bone tissue in your mouth.
Surgical procedure
Once Dr. Meyers has examined your mouth, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb your gums and prevent you from feeling any pain during the procedure. At worst, you may feel a little discomfort.
When you no longer feel any pain, Dr. Meyers will make a small incision in your gums and fold them outwards. He will clean out all the bacteria from the pocket area and file down bony areas. Any damaged bone fragments will also be removed. If there are any places where the remaining bone is very thin, he may do a bone graft to repair the area. Implanting new bone will start the bone regeneration process and heal the area.
When Dr. Meyers is satisfied that the bacterial load is reduced sufficiently and no diseased bone is left, he will suture your gums and apply periodontal dressing. You will then be able to go home with pain-killing medication and specific guidelines on what to expect post-procedure. The friendly Pinole Periodontics and Dental Implants staff will ensure you know how to take care of your mouth at home.
Untreated gum disease can turn into a life-threatening condition, so it is best to visit your dentist regularly to ensure a healthy mouth. Even though some of us are pathologically scared of going to the dentist, most procedures are painless and prevent further complications if treatment is started early. You will find that visiting Dr. Gregory Meyers at Pinole Periodontics and Dental Implants is a pleasure, and we hope to see you there soon.