Restore Your Health with Osseous Surgery

Left untreated, periodontal disease will not only affect your gums. As the condition progresses, it will eventually spread to your bone tissue as well. When this occurs, pockets will form in your jawbone, and you could eventually experience widespread tooth loss. With decades of experience, Dr. Nguyen can perform osseous surgery at our Lithia Springs, GA, practice to treat your periodontal disease. After removing bacteria and damaged tissue, she will reshape your bone and reposition your gums for restored oral health. Dr. Nguyen has the advanced training needed to ensure your procedure is safe and involves negligible discomfort.

Candidates for Osseous Surgery

If you have severe or widespread gum disease, you may be a good candidate for osseous surgery. However, Dr. Nguyen will typically recommend bone surgery only if other, more conservative treatments have been unsuccessful. To determine your candidacy for treatment, she will carefully examine the bacterial pockets in your jawbone. This is done by measuring and monitoring their depth.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Before your procedure, Dr. Nguyen will numb your gums and jawbone. If needed, we can supply additional, stronger forms of sedation. Once you are comfortable, Dr. Nguyen will carefully make an incision in your gums, gently lifting the tissue to better access the treatment area underneath. Then she will smooth your tooth root or roots, since a rough surface area can easily trap oral bacteria. She will also smooth and reshape your jawbone. Often, bacterial erosion will roughen this area, as well, which can cause a further buildup of microbes. In many cases, Dr. Nguyen will actually remove a layer of bone tissue to create a smooth, even contour for your alveolar ridge. In other cases, she may perform a bone graft to restore areas of bone loss. When she is finished, Dr. Nguyen will carefully close up the incisions with small sutures.

Understanding the Benefits of Osseous Surgery

Osseous surgery can have tremendous advantages for your long-term oral and physical health. Without appropriate gum disease treatment, the infection will continue to progress. Your jawbone will recede further, and your facial appearance could change dramatically. You will also experience tooth loss as your bone tissue pulls away from your dental roots. Eventually, you could develop a serious, or even life-threatening, bone infection.

Osseous surgery can have tremendous advantages for your long-term oral and physical health.

During osseous surgery, Dr. Nguyen will remove bacteria to prevent additional damage. An accompanying bone graft can also reduce your risk for tooth loss since it will restore a strong, dense jawbone. Finally, osseous surgery can guard against the aged, sunken look that accompanies tooth loss.