Severe gum diseases, also known as periodontitis, can make you lose some of the bone that holds the teeth in place. If you are suffering from the disease, our periodontists may suggest that you undergo bone grafting. Also known as osseous grafting, the procedure can help new bone to grow in place of the one that may have been destroyed by periodontitis.
Periodontitis and Bone Loss
If gum disease is left untreated, it can lead to chipping away from the gum tissues and, eventually, tooth loss. In some severe cases, the disease can also lead to bone loss in the jaw.
Periodontitis is a severe bacterial infection that affects the bone and gum tissues supporting the teeth. The disease is mainly caused by poor oral hygiene, which leads to bacteria living in dental plaque. Over time, the bacteria can thrive, and cause inflammation and tenderness of the gums.
The initial stage of severe gum disease is known as gingivitis. This stage is characterized by slightly swollen gums that bleed easily.
When gum disease progresses, it is known as periodontitis. At this later stage, the bacteria and toxins produced by the plaque bacteria attack the gums, extend past the gumline, and infect the tissues that hold the teeth in place. As the disease progresses, the bacteria break down the tissues and bone that hold the teeth.
Untreated periodontitis often leads to falling off of the teeth from the already weakened gums.
The good news is that we can treat your periodontitis. At Portal Cypress Dentistry, our dental team is proficient in various surgical procedures, such as bone grafting, which can reduce and reverse the effects of periodontitis.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Gum disease manifests different symptoms based on the severity of the infection. The common symptoms include:
- Feeling pain in the mouth when chewing
- Sensitive teeth
- Loose teeth
- Bleeding or swollen gums
- Persistent bad breath
Goals of Osseous Surgery
At Portal Cypress Dentistry, we carry out osseous surgery to remove pockets in the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth as well as reshape deformities. We recommend the procedure as a treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases.
When you undergo osseous surgery, the periodontal pockets that cause periodontitis will be eliminated. However, do not let the word “surgery” make you think that the procedure is painful. The procedure is quite painless. In fact, most of the patients we treat say that the procedure feels more like a thorough cleaning.
There are four main reasons why we may recommend that you undergo osseous surgery:
i). Reduce Spread of Bacteria
If you have poor oral health, bacteria from the mouth can spread to other parts of the body and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as respiratory disease and heart disease. Our periodontist will remove deep tartar and nearby bacteria in your mouth to reduce the risk of the bacteria spreading.
ii). Preventing Bone Loss
When periodontal bacteria start infecting your body, the immune system will jump into action. The response by the immune system in tackling the bacterial infection can lead to bone loss in the jaw region. The result? The teeth may fall off.
Osseous surgery aims to stop the periodontitis from progressing to this severe state.
iii). Improve Your Smile
Periodontal disease can make your mouth unsightly. The symptoms of the diseases, such as rotten teeth, brown gums, and ridge indentations, can make you depressed and too self-conscious to smile.
Our team can help you to regain your confident smile by carrying out osseous surgery. The surgery helps to reduce bacteria and the effects of gum disease, thereby restoring your mouth to its former radiance. You will be spotting a beautiful and confident smile in no time.
iv). Enabling Home Care
When your gum pockets increase and become deeper, it can be painful to brush and floss properly. When the teeth are not brushed regularly, they become a target for more bacteria, which can exacerbate the oral diseases.
Luckily, osseous surgery reduces the depth of your gum pockets. After healing, you will find it easier to brush and floss properly; two activities that are crucial to maintaining good oral hygiene.
How Does Osseous Grafting Work?
At Portal Cypress Dentistry, our periodontist may recommend an osseous grafting procedure to address the bony defects caused by periodontal disease. The procedure involves guided tissue regeneration by rebuilding the bone and supporting tissues that have lost.
During the surgical procedure, we’ll thoroughly clean the roots of the affected teeth. Apart from this, we’ll prepare the bony defects and fill them with a suitable bone graft material. Our periodontist will then cover the bone graft by a special membrane and then suture the gums back into place.
As you heal over time, the osseous graft will fill in for the lost bone, thereby providing new support for the tooth.
Sometimes, you may experience bleeding and swelling after the surgery. Do not be alarmed; this is normal. If you are at home, you can easily control the bleeding by placing an ice pack on the outside of the affected area.
Should the bleeding or swelling be excess, please get in touch with us for our team to look at your gums. We may recommend several follow-up visits to ensure that you are healing properly.
Apart from this, you need to follow the meticulous maintenance program that our periodontist will recommend for you. This is especially important during the initial stages of the healing process. The plan will be customized for you to prevent any post-operative infections.
Post Osseous Graft and Implant Procedure
Bone grafts can be quite time-consuming, depending on how damaged your bones and gums may be after being infected with periodontitis. However, the procedure is necessary for any implant process.
During the healing process, there are certain foods you should avoid. To prevent postoperative complications, only consume soft foods until the mouth heals completely.
Board Certified Periodontal Care
At Portal Cypress Dentistry, our dental implants and bone grafting surgeries are offered by board-certified periodontists. While a family dentist may do the procedure at a cheaper cost, the savings could end up being costly in the long run.
Osseous grafting involves multiple delicate procedures that should be done by an experienced and skilled dental implant specialist. Get in touch with us today to regain a healthy and beautiful smile through osseous grafting.