Osseous Surgery Specialist

What is osseous surgery?

Osseous surgery is a pocket reduction surgery that gets rid of bacteria living in the pouches that can form between your teeth and gums during periodontal disease. The procedure involves cutting back your gums, removing the bacteria, and repairing the damaged bone.

Who benefits from osseous surgery?

The average person has a 2-3 millimeter pocket between the base of your teeth and gums. If you have periodontal disease or gum disease, this pocket can expand and leave room for bacteria to form and do damage to your teeth, gums, and underlying bone structure.

Large pockets are difficult to clean with regular brushing or even through professional dental cleanings. 

What happens during osseous surgery?

The entire procedure lasts about two hours. Your provider numbs the gums in the area to be treated using a local anesthetic and then makes a small incision along your gumline. This enables them to fold back your gums and thoroughly remove any bacteria underneath. 

If you have areas in these pockets where the bone is irregularly shaped or damaged, your dentist smooths this down to discourage the further accumulation of bacteria. 

At the end of the procedure, your provider seals the gum area back up and covers it with a special dressing to minimize bleeding. The healthy gum tissue naturally reattaches to your teeth with time. 

What is recovery like following osseous surgery?

The team at Los Gatos Dental Specialists provides thorough aftercare instructions following osseous surgery. You need to follow a modified diet that includes only soft foods for a few days. It’s also important to avoid sucking actions, like smoking or using a straw, as these can cause complications. 

You also need to minimize vigorous physical activity for a few days to allow for healing. If you have any swelling, ice packs may be placed on the outside of your mouth. 

The team also instructs you to change your gauze regularly and rinse your mouth with warm salt water about 24 hours after the procedure.

If you have gum disease, call Los Gatos Dental Specialists to find out more about osseous surgery, or use the online tool to schedule an appointment.