Looking to get Gum Surgery in Ghatkopar East, Mumbai?

Gum disease is an infection of the gums due to the deposition of plaque and tartar along the gum line. The symptoms of gingivitis are as follows:

1) The gums during gingivitis become dark red or purple and swollen with rounded edges due to gum inflammation and have a tendency to bleed easily.

2) This gum swelling causes bleeding gums on brushing which is a very common symptom of gingivitis.

3) The gum collar around your tooth becomes loose and pus develops in the gap between the gums and teeth.

4) The gum disorder causes the pus to leach from your gums leading to a bad taste in your mouth.

5) You develop a bad breath problem which does not seem to improve in spite of using oral mints and mouthwashes

6) If gingivitis is left untreated for 3-4 weeks after gingivitis develops, this infection progress to periodontitis which is a much more serious condition and ultimately causes tooth loss.

Dental scaling and polishing is the gold standard treatment of mild to moderate gingivitis. In cases of severe gingivitis and periodontitis, a more aggressive line of treatment is done to get the infection levels under control. These are some of the gum surgery procedures described below:

1. SCALING AND ROOT PLANING: Scaling removes the plaque and tartar deposits above the gum line and reverses teeth gum swelling with the use of an ultrasonic scaler. Root planing is done using sharp hand scalers which reach below the gum level and scrape away the tartar deposits stuck to the root part along with the unhealthy outer layer of the root leaving behind a healthy root surface that is ready to attach to the gums again.

2. CURETTAGE: This is a minor surgical procedure done under local anaesthesia. This is nothing but scraping and cutting away the inner unhealthy layer of the gum pocket to encourage bleeding which helps the newly denuded layer of the underlying gums to reattach to the root surface. This surgical area is then covered with a palliative medicinal dressing and enough time is given to the gums to reattach.

3. GINGIVAL FLAP SURGERY: This is again a minor surgical procedure done under local anaesthesia. The gums are surgically separated from the roots to clear away the unhealthy outer layer of the root and repair the bone damage. The gums are then stitched back and the area is covered with a medicinal palliative dressing to promote healthy healing. 

4. BONE GRAFTS: In severe gingivitis, the supporting bone is damaged and eaten away by the underlying infection. In this procedure, the gums tissue is surgically cut to reveal the underlying bone. Bone powder mixed with sterile saline is placed in the damaged area and this mixture is covered by a collagen membrane. The gums are then placed back and stitched. The collagen membrane provides the necessary fibre to the bone powder which seals with the damaged bone and hardens. This surgery helps to reverse the damage caused by severe gingivitis and increases the lifespan of the teeth which would have become loose and fallen off if left untreated.

Gum surgery is not a painful procedure as it is done under local anaesthesia. Gingivitis and periodontitis which cause gum swelling and gum bleeding are a little painful which you will go through every single day if you don't get it treated. After the surgery, gum swelling remains for some time but this time it is the good kind since it signifies healing. When the surgical procedure is complete, the area is covered with a medicinal palliative dressing which has to remain undisturbed for 7 days. Patients are instructed to not eat and brush on the surgical site since this can dislodge the dressing. An ice pack can be used outside the mouth to reduce facial swelling and your favourite flavour of ice cream is actually written as a prescription along with antibiotics and analgesics to deal with any discomfort post-operatively.