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I am 31, male with gum disease.
I had my last deep cleaning one month ago and yesterday I went back to my periodontist to check the pockets. Most of my pockets are 2-4mm, but three teeth have 6mm. My periodontist recommend "Osseous flap periodontal surgery" on these three 6mm-pocket teeth.
After searching online I am a little bit scared by the surgery because I saw horrible pictures and some people complains about the gum recession after the surgery.
So can anyone with experiences give some me suggestions about whether or not to take this surgery ?
Then chances are those pockets are not improving the way he would like them to be. Flap surgery can help immensely if the Disease is staying active in those areas. Not doing the surgery means consistent SRP on those teeth in order to try and stay ahead of the active disease. As you were probably told, Perio never goes away. We can merely put it in recession, kind of like cancer. Once the pockets get to that depth, no matter how diligent your home care is, you aren't going to be able to keep them clean and will need very active maintenance to keep them managed. By doing the Flap surgery, the roots of the teeth are able to accessed, scaled of the toxins and bacteria that are collecting and then the gums sewn back. The recession is due to the bone loss you've experienced. You can't regrow bone once it's lost. You would have that recession if those pockets completely healed without doing the surgery since when the inflammation in the gums is healed, then the gums shrink. If you don't mind me asking, which area is the concern? Is it in the back of your mouth or the front? Did you discuss your concerns with your Periodontist?
Then chances are those pockets are not improving the way he would like them to be. Flap surgery can help immensely if the Disease is staying active in those areas. Not doing the surgery means consistent SRP on those teeth in order to try and stay ahead of the active disease. As you were probably told, Perio never goes away. We can merely put it in recession, kind of like cancer. Once the pockets get to that depth, no matter how diligent your home care is, you aren't going to be able to keep them clean and will need very active maintenance to keep them managed. By doing the Flap surgery, the roots of the teeth are able to accessed, scaled of the toxins and bacteria that are collecting and then the gums sewn back. The recession is due to the bone loss you've experienced. You can't regrow bone once it's lost. You would have that recession if those pockets completely healed without doing the surgery since when the inflammation in the gums is healed, then the gums shrink. If you don't mind me asking, which area is the concern? Is it in the back of your mouth or the front? Did you discuss your concerns with your Periodontist?
Thanks for your reply.
All the three 6mm pockets are on my lower teeth. Two of them is two molars, one on left side & the other on right side. The 3rd one is a lower lateral incisor.
When my periodontist recommending the surgery I had never heard of this and cannot understand what he is saying. So I said give me one or two weeks to consider. Then in this week I searched on-line, saw some pictures and got to know the process of this surgery, but I am a little scared and worried about whether it is really good for me, or just so-so, or may have some side-effects .....
You may want to see if there is a dentist locally who specializes in lasers. Sometimes (and I do mean SOMETIMES) they can clean out those pockets with a laser. But be very careful if you go this route.
I'd get a 2nd opinion from another periodontist. In fact, I'd make an appointment and not even ask specifically about the surgery but just see what he or she recommends.
You may want to see if there is a dentist locally who specializes in lasers. Sometimes (and I do mean SOMETIMES) they can clean out those pockets with a laser. But be very careful if you go this route.
Don't be confuse. I think, you should do it. And should to go to a dental specialist and take an advice. You may take a good advice from there.
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