Gum surgery for periodontal disease in West Hills Los Angeles, CA

Periodontal disease is widespread, affecting approximately half of adults over 30 in the United States. Its early symptoms are typically mild nuisances, such as puffy gums or bleeding when you brush. But when gum disease is left untreated, it can progress into a much more severe oral health issue, leading to loss of gum tissue and even bone and tooth loss. At the Royal Dental Practice in West Hills Los Angeles, CA, we help patients restore health to their gums with various periodontal disease treatment options, including gum surgery.

Periodontal disease explained

Understanding why gum surgery might be necessary helps to know what happens to your teeth and gums when you have gum disease. It starts due to a buildup of plaque and bacteria on your teeth, which causes your gums to become infected and pull away from the teeth, which can cause small pockets to develop. When this happens, even more bacteria and plaque can collect in the pockets that are impossible to eliminate with brushing and flossing at home, causing further damage to your gums and the underlying bone structure.

Types of gum surgery

Treatment for gum disease varies based on its severity. In its later stages, one or more types of gum surgery may be required to help restore health to the tissues and provide proper support for your teeth.

• Flap surgery, or pocket reduction, is used to remove the bacteria from the pockets formed between your teeth and gums. After sanitizing the pockets, they are secured against your teeth to create a healthy seal and prevent further bacterial infiltration.
• Gum grafting may be used to help replace gum tissue that has naturally receded or been removed to treat gum disease. We take a small piece of tissue from another location in the mouth and attach it to the area where tissues have been lost, which helps cover the sensitive tooth root and improves your gums’ appearance.
• Crown lengthening can remove overgrown gum tissue from the teeth, which can occur due to gum disease. Also crown lengthening may be needed for the purposes of restorative dentistry,when there is subgingival decay and/or the length of the clinical portion of the tooth is so short that makes the crown placement impossible due to lack of support and retention.This in turn could be detrimental to the future of a crown and can cause premature loss of the crown.  

Gentle care for your gums

At Royal Dental Practice, we take extra care to ensure that your dental experience is comfortable and painless. We use modern dental anesthetics and a gentle touch and will take the time to explain all you need to know about your treatment beforehand so that you know what to expect and how to take care of your mouth afterward. To schedule an appointment at our West Hills Los Angeles, CA office, call (818) 334-6655 or book your appointment online.