What is gum disease?

Gum disease or periodontal disease is caused due to excessive build-up of bacteria in the tissues that are surrounding a tooth and form plaques. There will be an increase in plaque formation if you haven’t been taking good care of your oral health which will lead to the infection of gum and bone leading to its destruction. Other factors that can make you more susceptible to gum diseases are chronic illnesses and some medications, despite good oral care habits.

Who needs periodontal surgery or gum surgery?

Gum surgery is recommended when you have advanced disease around your gums such as swollen, red, or bleeding gums, receding gums, deep pockets between your gums and teeth, loose teeth, bad breath and pain while chewing. 

How is gum surgery performed?

The surgery is mostly performed under local anaesthesia in dental clinics which lasts for several minutes to a few hours. Your surgeon might prescribe antibiotics that need to be taken prior to the procedure to reduce the risk of developing any infections. And you will have to stop taking any medications like aspirin or any blood thinners, a few days prior to the procedure. There are different types of surgical procedures which will be determined by the surgeon depending on your specific condition.

Pocket reduction (also known as gingival flap surgery): In this procedure, the surgeon will make small cuts in your gums and fold them back from the tooth to provide good access to remove bacteria and plaques from the tooth-supporting structures. The gums will be then sutured back to firmly attach around the teeth.

Regeneration: This procedure is done if your disease has become severe and more advanced to damage the bone surrounding your tooth root. In this procedure, the surgeon will insert bone grafts, membranes or tissue-stimulating proteins (or in combination), thereby helping the gum tissues to regenerate and attach firmly around the teeth again.

Crown lengthening: Crown lengthening procedure is mostly done for cosmetic purposes or when you have an overgrowth of gum tissues. So in this procedure, the surgeon will remove the excessive gum tissue from your teeth and make your teeth appear longer. 

Soft tissue graft: This procedure is usually performed when you have receding gums due to gum disease. So the surgeon takes a small piece of tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and attaches it to your gums to replace gum tissue that has receded. 

How long does it take for a patient to recover after the surgery?

The recovery will depend on your overall health and the type of surgery you had. It is expected to have minor bleeding and little discomfort after any dental procedures. However, you should be able to proceed with your normal activities just about a day after the procedure. You should avoid the smoking habit as it can interfere with the healing process. 

How much does it cost for a gum surgery procedure?

The cost of the gum surgery treatment procedure depends upon the type of surgery required. The flap surgery may cost you around INR 2500-5000 per quadrant. It will cost you more if you need any grafting procedures.