OSSEOUS SURGERY

Your periodontist may recommend osseous surgery to arrest the progression of periodontal disease. Learn more today.

Osseous surgery is a common periodontal procedure used to gain access to tooth roots and remove disease-causing bacteria that can lead to more serious health issues.

What is osseous surgery?

Osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the alveolar bone, which is the bone surrounding the root of the tooth that anchors it in place. The goal of osseous surgery is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal (gum) disease. The benefits of osseous surgery include:

• Reducing bacterial spread. Bacteria from the mouth can spread throughout the body and cause life-threatening conditions such as heart and respiratory disease. Removing deep tartar and bacteria helps lower the risk of bacteria spreading.
• Preventing bone loss. Periodontal bacteria can lead to bone loss in the jaw region, causing bone loss and teeth to fall out. Osseous surgery helps stop periodontal disease before it progresses to this level.
• Enhancing your smile. Advanced periodontal disease can also cause brown gums, rotting teeth and ridge indentations. Osseous surgery helps to reduce bacteria and disease, subsequently restoring your smile – and your confidence.
• Easing home care. As the gum pocket deepens, it becomes nearly impossible to adequately brush and floss, resulting in further periodontal disease. Following osseous surgery, thorough brushing and flossing becomes much easier.

What does osseous surgery entail?

Although the procedure is referred to as surgery, osseous surgery is actually a relatively simple procedure that is not overly invasive. Performed by a periodontist, it’s done under local anesthesia or with sedation dentistry.

After anesthesia has been applied, your periodontist will cut around each tooth of the affected area to release the gum tissue from the bone, allowing access to the bone and roots of the teeth. The roots will then be thoroughly cleaned, followed by the reshaping of the bone around the teeth.Bone grafting may be necessary to fill in large defects.

The gums will then be placed back over the bone and sutured back in place. The site will also be covered with a dressing.

Following the procedure, pain medicine and antibiotic mouth rinses are typically prescribed for at-home use. Bleeding and swelling may occur, but this can be controlled by placing an ice pack on the outside of the affected area. If excessive bleeding and/or swelling occur, it’s important to notify our office. Follow-up visits may also be scheduled to ensure proper healing and avoid post-operative infection.

As with any periodontal procedure, your commitment to lifelong care and professional maintenance will be essential for a long-lasting successful outcome.

Contact Park Smiles NYC today!

At Park Smiles NYC, we offer a comprehensive array of dental services and specialties in the convenience of one office. Led by Dr. Ruben Cohen , a renowned board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, our skilled and experienced team includes the top dentists, pediatric dentists, periodontist, orthodontist, endodontist, and anesthesiologists in New York.

For any and all of your dental and periodontal needs – including osseous surgery – we’re here to help!

Achieving a healthy, beautiful smile is like a Walk in the Park at Park Smiles NYC!