Periodontal surgery, often called gum surgery, is treatment that opens or reshapes the gums to clean and repair areas damaged by advanced gum disease. Redondo Beach Dental Group offers periodontal surgery in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Surgery is usually considered when gum disease has reached the bone and a deep cleaning alone has not brought it under control. A national study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in 2018 estimated that 7.8% of U.S. adults aged 30 and older with natural teeth had severe periodontitis. If you have been told you need gum surgery, call (310) 542-6988 to have your gums measured and your options explained.
When Gum Surgery Is Recommended
Gum disease creates pockets between the gums and teeth where bacteria collect out of reach of a toothbrush. Healthy pockets are generally 1 to 3 millimeters deep. In gum disease treatment, the usual first step for periodontitis is scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning below the gumline, and many patients need nothing more.
A few weeks after that cleaning, the gums are measured again. Surgery may be recommended when:
- Some pockets stay deep, commonly 5 millimeters or more, and keep bleeding
- X-rays show bone loss around the teeth
- Teeth have started to feel loose or uncomfortable
- Overgrown gum tissue makes the teeth hard to keep clean
Surgery is not the only route for a deep pocket. Laser pocket reduction uses a dental laser to clean and reduce pockets, and it suits some patients whose pockets stay deep after non-surgical treatment. Which option fits depends on your measurements, your X-rays and your health history.
Types of Periodontal Surgery We Offer
Flap surgery (pocket reduction surgery)
Flap surgery lifts the gum away from the teeth so the roots can be cleaned of tartar and bacteria that a deep cleaning could not reach. Uneven bone may be smoothed, and the gum is then placed back snugly around the teeth and held with stitches. The goal is shallower pockets that are easier to keep clean at home and at your cleanings. Where gum disease has destroyed bone, a bone graft is sometimes placed during the same surgery; ask us whether yours would include one.
Gingivectomy
A gingivectomy removes excess or diseased gum tissue that covers part of the teeth. Taking away that extra tissue gets rid of the pocket it formed and leaves an area that is easier to brush and floss. It is often used when the gums have overgrown the teeth, which can happen with gum disease or as a side effect of some medications.
Gingivoplasty
Gingivoplasty reshapes healthy gum tissue around the teeth so it follows a more natural contour. It is often done alongside a gingivectomy, or after gum disease has healed and left the gums uneven, and can make the gumline easier to clean and more even to look at.
Related gum procedures
Some gum surgery is done for reasons other than active gum disease, and each has its own planning. Crown lengthening removes gum, and sometimes bone, to expose more of a tooth before a crown or to even out a gummy smile. Gum grafting adds tissue where the gum has receded and left roots exposed.
What Happens During Periodontal Surgery
- Planning. Your pocket measurements and X-rays are reviewed with you, along with your medical history and every medication you take.
- Numbing. The area is numbed with local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure and movement rather than pain.
- Treatment. Depending on the procedure, the gum is lifted and the roots cleaned, or excess tissue is removed and reshaped.
- Closing. The gum is placed in its new position, often with a few stitches, and sometimes a protective dressing over the area.
Gum surgery is usually done one area of the mouth at a time. If you are nervous about dental work, ask about sedation when you book, and ask us about follow-up visits so you know what to plan for.
Recovery After Gum Surgery
Some soreness and swelling for the first few days is common, and over-the-counter pain relief is often enough, though your dentist may advise otherwise for your case. Many people go back to work or normal routines within a day or two. The gums keep healing for several weeks after that.
While the area heals, it generally helps to:
- Follow the cleaning and rinsing instructions you are given for the treated area
- Eat soft, cool foods and chew on the other side for the first few days
- Avoid smoking, which slows gum healing
- Skip hard, crunchy or very hot foods until the area feels settled
Call the office if bleeding does not slow with gentle pressure, if swelling gets worse after the third day, or if you develop a fever.
Risks and What Surgery Can and Cannot Do
Periodontal surgery can reduce pockets and make the teeth easier to keep clean, but results vary and depend a great deal on home care afterward. Possible downsides include:
- Gums that settle a little lower, so teeth can look longer and gaps between them may show
- Root sensitivity to cold, which often eases over several weeks
- Bleeding, swelling or, less often, infection at the surgical site
Surgery does not cure periodontitis. The bacteria that cause it can return, so most people go on to regular periodontal maintenance cleanings, typically every three months, to help keep the pockets from deepening again.
What Periodontal Surgery Costs
The cost of periodontal surgery depends on the type of procedure, how many teeth or areas of the mouth are treated, and whether a bone graft or other material is added. Gum surgery is often billed by area of the mouth, and maintenance cleanings continue afterward. Ask for an estimate after your evaluation so you know the number before treatment starts.
Many dental plans cover part of gum surgery as a periodontal procedure, subject to your deductible, waiting periods and annual maximum. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to your treatment. For the remaining balance, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gum surgery a major surgery?
Gum surgery is usually a minor outpatient procedure done in a dental chair with local anesthetic. It is still surgery, so the gums need several weeks to heal fully, but most people go home the same day and return to normal routines within a day or two.
How painful is periodontal flap surgery?
Periodontal flap surgery is done with the area numbed, so most people feel pressure rather than pain during it. Soreness and swelling are common for a few days afterward and are often managed with over-the-counter pain relief. Tell your dentist if the pain is getting worse instead of better.
Are you put to sleep for periodontal surgery?
Most periodontal surgery is done with local anesthetic while you are awake, so the treated area is numb and most people feel pressure rather than pain. Patients who are anxious can ask about sedation, which helps you relax during the procedure. Ask us which options fit your treatment when you book.
What helps gums heal faster after surgery?
Gums heal best after surgery when you follow your cleaning instructions, eat soft foods, chew on the other side and avoid smoking. Keeping the area clean without scrubbing it lowers the chance of infection. Going to your follow-up and maintenance visits lets problems be caught early.
Do gums grow back after flap surgery?
Gums heal after flap surgery but do not usually grow back to their old height. Because the pockets are reduced, the gum often settles a little lower on the teeth, so teeth can look slightly longer and some roots may feel sensitive. Gum grafting can cover exposed roots in some cases.
Does insurance pay for periodontal surgery?
Insurance often pays part of periodontal surgery, because many dental plans list it as a periodontal procedure. Your deductible, waiting periods and annual maximum still apply, and some plans ask for pocket measurements and X-rays first. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to your treatment.
What is the difference between oral surgery and periodontal surgery?
Periodontal surgery treats the gums and the bone that support the teeth, mainly to control gum disease or reshape the gumline. Oral surgery covers a wider range of procedures on the mouth and jaw, such as removing wisdom teeth or correcting jaw problems. Deep gum pockets that remain after a deep cleaning are treated by periodontal care, which may include gum surgery.
Book a Gum Evaluation in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and mention that you were told you may need gum surgery so the visit can be planned as a gum evaluation.