At certain sites that do not respond to non-surgical treatment, or that were severely affected from the outset, surgery may be needed to stabilise the periodontal disease and save the teeth.
What is periodontal regeneration?
Bone lost around a tooth can be regenerated through a bone graft. This procedure builds up bone height, improving the anchorage of the tooth roots.
After a bone graft, the gum above it may recede; this can be corrected at a later stage.
What is a gum graft?
The aim of gum surgery is to thicken the gum and/or cover the tooth root (full coverage cannot be guaranteed).
A graft only corrects the consequences of receding gums. It is essential to treat the cause as well, with periodontal cleaning and by correcting aggressive brushing.
A gum graft can be painful, especially when tissue is taken from the palate. A palatal plate can be made to protect the donor site. Using tissue from your own palate rules out any risk of “rejecting” a foreign body.
How it works
- 1st appointment: diagnosis / prognosis / treatment plan, quote and explanations.
- 2nd appointment: prescription, pre-operative advice, signing of the quote and tissue preparation.
- 3rd appointment: surgery.
- 4th appointment: removal of the stitches after 10 to 15 days.
- 5th appointment (gum surgery): check-up after 2 to 3 months.
Post-operative recommendations
Follow the prescription, which starts a week before the procedure. On the morning of the procedure, do not arrive on an empty stomach. That evening, stick to cold liquid food and avoid anything acidic.
General advice
- Do not smoke.
- Avoid any kind of sport for 3 days, then avoid high-intensity activity until the stitches are removed.
- Limit acidic, grainy and sticky food.
- No alcohol while you are taking the medication.
- If the palate bleeds: do not spit and do not rinse; sit down, relax, apply pressure with a gauze pad folded in four for 20 minutes, then remove it gently. If the bleeding continues, contact the practice.
Normal after-effects
- Difficulty opening your mouth for a few weeks.
- Possible swelling and bruising: this is a normal reaction.
- You may experience sensitivity to cold; this is temporary.
- Tender gums and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Apply Hyalugel to the operated areas 3 times a day for 1 month, without massaging or pressing.
The success of periodontal treatment depends on you: keeping your maintenance appointments, thorough hygiene, and following the instructions at home.
