What is periodontal flap surgery- A brief overview
Scaling and root planing are the nonsurgical methods to treat initial gum diseases. Minor surgical interventions like flap surgery treatment effectively manage gum diseases in their advanced stages. Now the question arises: what is periodontal flap surgery?
Periodontal flap surgery is a procedure done to raise a portion of gum tissue called a flap and use it to cover the defects in the supporting bone. Sometimes, flap surgery is combined with bone grafting if there is advanced bone loss. The surgery is done under the effect of local anesthesia and is entirely painless.
In the information provided below, we will briefly discuss the procedure, indications, and aftercare – brought to you by World Smiles Dental Center.
What is periodontal flap surgery?
Flap surgery is a minor procedure to restore the gum health of your teeth in cases of advanced gum diseases. It’s a painless and entirely safe procedure done by our gum experts at World Smiles Dental Center. Various flap surgery methods exist, such as traditional scalpel blades and laser surgery. At World Smiles Dental Center, we prefer laser flap surgery for its precision and faster healing. Dental lasers are used to raise a flap in an almost bloodless manner. Healing with lasers is faster as no stitches are required. Lasers are an efficient and faster way to perform flap surgery.
When is it indicated?
The common indications of periodontal flap surgery are given below. However, it should be noted that each case is different, and it is in your best interest to get your complete examination done with our experts to know your eligibility.
- Gums swelling
- Increased teeth sensitivity due to receding gums
- Tooth mobility due to loss of supporting bone
- Chronic Bad breath
Periodontal flap surgery purpose
The primary goal of flap surgery is to repair the damaged gums and restore the original gum health. In this surgical treatment, a flap is pulled, and the diseased area is then cleaned thoroughly before packing it back. The flap can be put back into the same area after cleaning or moved to cover any denuded root areas to cure the sensitivity problem. Flap surgery is a highly effective way to combat advanced gum diseases. Gum grafting can be combined with flap surgery in a procedure called regenerative flap surgery, where the damaged portion is cleaned, and healthy new gums grow in their position where grafting is done.
Flap surgery procedure
- The flap surgery is an entirely painless process done under local anesthesia. The first step is to numb the gums and surrounding soft tissues.
- After anesthesia, an incision is made to separate a flap from the gums. In the case of lasers, there is no incision using a blade; rather, dental lasers allow for precise incisions without damaging the healthy surrounding areas.
- The next step is pulling the flap to gain access to the diseased area
- The infected tissue is removed, and the area is thoroughly cleaned
- Once the cleaning is done, the flap is secured back to its original position with a suture. In the case of lasers, there is no need for sutures.
