Dental care is often focused on having great teeth and a confident smile, but the gum tissue is an essential part of oral health that shouldn’t be overlooked. While we may not always notice the gums, they help support the smile and contribute to the function and appearance of the mouth overall. Plus, the health of the teeth and gums impact each other and your overall health in time.
All of this is to say that healthy gums contribute to a healthy and beautiful smile, not to mention optimal mouth function. If you have gum problems, it’s important to address them before they worsen. In some cases, this means periodontal surgery. Dr. Benjamin K. Metz can provide periodontal surgery in Westerville or Lancaster, Ohio if it’s determined that you need it.
When Can Periodontal Surgery Be Recommended?
Your dentist won’t always turn to periodontal surgery, also known as gum surgery, when you have gum concerns. You can have an evaluation to determine the proper diagnosis and the right treatment for your situation. Periodontal surgery may come into play in cases when you have certain consequences of gingivitis or periodontitis, which are forms of gum disease. Sometimes, other treatment methods won’t solve the problem or the damage has progressed too much, so surgery is needed.
This treatment option can help solve the gum disease itself as well as damage that has resulted to the gum tissue, the teeth and/or the jawbone. Through surgery, Dr. Metz can help with problems such as getting rid of infection, preventing the loss of teeth and regrowing tissue and bone. Periodontal surgery can reduce pockets in the gum tissue and improve the shape of bone that has been impacted by gum disease.
Techniques used during periodontal surgery can restore the optimal health of the mouth, which in turn can improve the health of your entire body. Dr. Metz can discuss your situation with you and whether periodontal surgery can help. He won’t perform surgery unless it’s the best option for your situation.
How Does Periodontal Surgery Work?
This type of surgery can vary somewhat based on the condition of your gums, teeth and jawbone. Nonetheless, in general, Dr. Metz would fold back your gum line to expose the surfaces underneath. At that point, he can perform techniques to improve the bone, tooth root and gum tissue. In most cases, this type of surgery is done with the use of local anesthetic along with conscious sedation, but Dr. Metz will let you know if he needs to follow a different course of action for your particular case.
Dr. Metz may perform one or more of the following procedures:
- Flap surgery to remove tartar deposits and bring the gum closer to the tooth, reducing pockets
- Tissue grafting that puts tissue from another part of your body, usually the roof of your mouth, onto a receded gumline to build up the gum tissue
- Tissue regeneration to regrow bone and tissue, which uses a material similar to mesh to keep the gum and bone separated
- Bone grafting to restore damaged bone, which may use your own bone, bone that’s donated or artificial bone
These solutions can solve problems to restore the structure and integrity of your teeth, gum and jawbone. Dr. Metz would discuss with you which solutions he plans to use in advance, so you would know what to expect.
Ohio Periodontal Surgery
In the Westerville and Lancaster, Ohio areas, Dr. Metz can perform periodontal surgery to restore your gums and the rest of your oral health. First, he will perform an evaluation to ensure that surgery is the best bet or to discuss other possible solutions with you.
Contact one of our Ohio offices today to set up your evaluation. Call 614-882-5050 to make an appointment at our Westerville office or 740- 687-3500 for our Lancaster office, or feel free to contact us through our website.
