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What is Flap Surgery for oral health?

In severe cases scaling and root planning is used in conjunction with flap surgery to treat periodontal disease. During the procedure the gums are folded back temporarily allowing the dentist to reach the root of the tooth and bone. This procedure is preformed if there is infection remaining deep within the pockets of the gums. The surgery allows the dentist to remove the infection and clean the pockets properly.

In severe cases scaling and root planning is used in conjunction with flap surgery to treat periodontal disease. During the procedure, the gums are folded back temporarily allowing the dentist to reach the root of the tooth and bone. This procedure is performed if there is infection remaining deep within the pockets of the gums. The surgery allows the dentist to remove the infection and clean the pockets properly. 

Procedure:

  1. The dentist first makes you comfortable by numbing the site.
  2. Next, they gently separate the gums from the root of the tooth which creates a flap giving easy access to the infected area.
  3. Next, they remove any built up tarter and the plaque with scaling and root planning.
  4. Once the procedure is complete the gums are placed back against the teeth and stitched into place.

After surgery, you might experience some soreness however the soreness can be tolerated well with some mild pain medication.