Periodontal disease and dental aesthetics
In many occasions, when making the diagnosis of a periodontal disease, we find that after carrying out the appropriate studies we reach the conclusion that for its eradication we need to operate the gums. With gum surgery we do not seek in general (except for specific cases where we place a graft) to recover the lost bone, but stabilize the disease to keep teeth as long as possible.
The objective of the surgery is to eliminate the periodontal pockets, which are no more than spaces that form between the surface of the gum and the bone that surrounds the teeth. At the bottom of these pockets there is a microbial metabolism that makes the process perpetuate because it is impossible to reach the bottom of the bag (when it is deep) with conventional means of oral hygiene.
The surgery involves eliminating a collar of inflamed gum around the tooth, at the same time as lifting a flap to clean out the whole of the pocket and smooth the bone affected by the disease. We then stitch the gum over a base of healthy bone without pockets, eliminating the whole of the inflammatory and infectious process so that it is then possible to carry out correct hygiene.
In changing the position of the gum by removing the sac, the teeth appear to be longer, even more so when more bone has been lost. This is a handicap for the front teeth, especially if the patient has a gummy smile. In these cases a more conservative approach is used, and if this is not possible due to the seriousness of the disease, cosmetic treatment will be necessary once the underlying disease has been cured.
