subject: Periodontal Surgery - When Do You Need It? [print this page] Periodontal Surgery - When Do You Need It?
Periodontal surgery is used to treat periodontal disease. Periodontal diseases are caused due to bacterial action. If proper oral hygiene is not maintained, teeth become breeding grounds for bacteria. Bacteria secrete harmful chemicals and form a colorless plaque on the teeth. Because of periodontal diseases, the tissues of the gum and bone are destroyed. If too much of bony tissues are lost, the teeth may have to be extracted.
Periodontal surgery is recommended only in cases when nonsurgical procedures cannot repair the damaged tissues around your teeth. It is a specialized procedure and cannot be performed by general dentists. It has to be performed by a qualified dental surgeon. It is Periodontal diseases, if detected early, can be corrected by means of regenerative techniques. As the name implies, these procedures encourage the body to regenerate damaged tissues. These procedures involve the removal of infected tissues.
Periodontal surgery is a painless procedure. This is because better sedatives and anesthetic agents are available today and better surgical techniques have also been developed. Using these refined techniques, periodontal surgery can be performed as comfortably as any other normal dental procedure. If you suffer from dental anxiety, the use of sedatives is highly recommended. Depending on your body and the procedure, different types of sedatives may be used. The type of sedatives to be used will be determined by the dentist.
After periodontal surgery is completed, it may take some time to heal completely. During this time, it is very important to follow the instructions prescribed by the dentist. You can expect to be back to your normal daily routine one day after the surgery is completed. Special precautions may have to be taken when it comes to diet, exercise or follow-up. You should talk to your dentist about it. These are essential to prevent any disruption to your normal daily activities.
Periodontal surgery procedures are covered by insurance companies. Insurance may not completely cover the entire fee, but a large percentage is usually covered. You may have to talk to your dentist about payment options. Usually, the dentist will directly deal with the insurance company and you may not have to do any of the paperwork.
