1. When Gums Go Bad
Gingivitis is a serious gum disease (called periodontitis) wherein plaque adheres to the gumline and becomes calcified. Once hardened, plaque becomes resistant to brushing and flossing. Eventually, the infected gums will become swollen and bleed. As gum tissue erodes, pockets are formed between the gums and teeth, affecting the stability of the tooth. In extreme cases, the infection can spread down beyond the tooth and into the bone. If antibiotics or other dental procedures fail, a type of gum surgery called a gingivectomy must be performed.
2. Giving New Life to Your Gums
A gingivectomy (or gingival or periodontal flap surgery) is a relatively quick procedure by which the effects of gingivitis are repaired. A local anesthesia is administered to the infected gum area by the oral surgeon or periodontist (one who specializes in gum diseases). Diseased gum tissue is removed by making a small incision in the gum, and the remaining tissue is reshaped. Sometimes a laser may be used to remove the gum tissue. After, a putty-like substance is placed over the area to protect the gums during the healing process.
3. Life After Gum Surgery
It may take a few weeks for your gums to heal fully. Any pain associated with the procedure can be moderated with ibuprofen, aspirin or Tylenol. Antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce the risk of infection. It is important to maintain regular dental check-ups after a gingivectomy to avoid plaque from building up and hardening again. Most of the time, for the first year after this procedure, dental cleanings are scheduled every three months; after a year, regular six-month cleanings should be followed. Use of tobacco products should be stopped, as tobacco impedes healing and reduces the body's ability to fight infection.
4. Know the Risks
As in many types of oral surgery, a gingivectomy increases the chance of bacteria entering the bloodstream. For this reason, antibiotics are given to high-risk patients both before and after the surgery. High risk criteria includes having a history of heart problems, any immune diseases, liver disease, having any artificial joints, or a history of bacterial endocarditis (infection of heart valves). These risks, though, are uncommon, and the overall risk factor associated with a gingivectomy is small.
5. Purely for Aesethic Reasons
Sometimes, a gingivectomy may be performed simply for cosmetic reasons. Some people have excess gum tissue that they would like removed only for aesethic reasons (mainly, the overgrown tissue is exposed when the person smiles). A gingivectomy done for this reason is usually accompanied by a gingivoplasty, wherein the outer surface of the gums are surgically reshaped and restructured. In some cases, a gingivectomy may leave the gum looking thick and unnatural, and a gingivoplasty done at the same time will prevent this problem.
