Flap surgery
Gum surgery for advanced gum disease: the gum is gently lifted to clean the roots and reshape damaged bone, then repositioned and stitched.
Flap surgery in Hosur: what is involved
Flap surgery, also called periodontal flap, pocket reduction or osseous surgery, treats moderate to severe gum disease that has not responded to a deep clean. By then bacteria sit in deep pockets between gum and tooth, out of reach of normal cleaning. The surgery gives direct access to the roots, so the pockets can be cleaned and made shallower.
Under local anaesthetic the gum is cut along the tooth margin and folded back. Plaque, tartar and infected tissue are removed from the root surfaces, damaged bone is reshaped to take away the places bacteria hide, and a bone graft or membrane may be added to help regeneration. The gum is then laid back and stitched. It is very successful at controlling gum disease, but the result depends on thorough home care and regular maintenance afterwards.
Flap surgery: step by step
After an initial deep clean, we re-check your gums and bone to see whether pockets remain that only surgery can reach.
The area is numbed, and a small cut along the gum line lets the gum be folded back to expose the roots.
Plaque, tartar and infected tissue are removed from the roots, and damaged bone is smoothed so pockets can close up.
The gum is repositioned and stitched. You come back one to four weeks later to have the stitches removed and to check healing.
Good to know about Flap surgery
Soreness, bleeding, swelling and bruising are normal. Swelling can take two or three days to appear and up to two weeks to settle. Take painkillers before the anaesthetic wears off, keep to a soft diet for a week, use the antibacterial mouthwash you are given, and avoid straws for a week.
Gum that has been lost to disease does not grow back, so teeth can look longer and gaps between them larger, and some sensitivity is possible. A gum graft can restore recession later if needed. Daily cleaning and regular maintenance visits keep the result stable.
Guides and advice
Bleeding gums aren't normal. What gum disease is, what causes it, how it progresses, and what keeps your gums healthy.
If a deep clean has not controlled your gum disease, we will assess whether flap surgery is the next step.