Gingivectomy - Full Mouth

Overview

Gingivectomy of the full mouth is described as a type of gum surgery that involves removal of damaged gum tissues and periodontal pockets between teeth and gums that trap bacteria and food. The procedure of Gingivectomy is performed, when other surgical options fail to treat. When the condition becomes severe and infections start invading ligaments and bones, the Gingivectomy is the only solution.

The reasons for Gingivectomy procedure are many that include eliminating gingival overgrowth, removing abscesses and suprabony pockets, treating sub-gingival tooth decay, correcting uneven gumline and treating periodontal pockets.

Gingivectomy is a better option for periodontal diseases than root planning or tooth scaling procedures. Over the time, periodontal pockets start developing between teeth and gum that trap food debris, leading to bacteria growth. Sometimes the pockets grow deeper up to 3-4 millimetres. Bacteria build up in the pockets affects healthy gums. At this point, Gingivectomy procedure helps to clear off gingival pockets, thus creating spaces for healthy gums to grow. Gingival tissues are removed to allow reattachment of your gum on the tooth.

A minor Gingivectomy is the perfect way to correct irregular gumlines. Also, impacted wisdom teeth are best treated with Gingivectomy procedure. When a wisdom tooth has not erupted properly, affecting the surrounding gum tissues, the procedure helps to treat inflamed gum area to remove the gum flap and expose the tooth.

Overgrowth of gum tissues can cover the tooth crown, making it cosmetically unappealing for your appearance. Gingivectomy surgery helps to remove excess gum tissues, thus clearing your teeth off plague bacteria and exposing the surface of your teeth. In some cases, the procedure is performed to help your dentist get access to the tooth root. The clearance helps to perform the next step of dental filling.

Gingivectomy procedure is done by an oral surgeon or periodontist. Before Gingivectomy surgery, there are a few things to be taken into account as discussed below.

Before Treatment

Before periodontal treatment, these are the following instructions that you may have to go through:

• Follow all instructions as specified in your pre-operative prescriptions. You should bring the prescription on the day of appointment with the dentist. After a good evaluation and assessment of the medicines that you have been taking so far, the dentist will suggest which medicines to continue and which to stop.
• You may be suggested to stop taking non-steroidals and aspirins prior to the surgery. Also, stop taking blood thinners as advised by your doctor. It may be necessary to take a few antibiotics before the surgery. Make sure you eat before the surgery since you may not be able to have foods for several hours post surgery.
• Notify your dentist regarding any sensitivity of allergies you may have to specific antibiotics. Take only prescribed antibiotics as the doctor finds suitable for you. Do not take the medicines on an empty stomach since that may result into nausea. Besides, women who are taking contraceptive pills should intimate it to the dentist since the pills may interfere with certain antibiotics.
• If you choose sedatives over anaesthetics, then bring someone with you on the day of surgery who can support you all through the day and take you home.
• Dress warmly and feel free to ask any questions to the dentist if it’s bothering you.

How it is Performed

Gingivectomy surgery usually takes a few minutes but it can extend up to an hour, depending upon the severity of your gum disease.

• On the day of surgery, you are asked to relax and feel comfortable. After you are seated, the dentist applies a kind of substance on the gum area so that you feel less pain when local anaesthesia is injected with a needle.
• In a while, your gum becomes numbed. Your dentist uses laser or a scalpel to scrape off excess gum tissues. One done, he reattaches the remaining gum around the teeth with sutures. A special type of rinse or saline is used to clear your teeth after the stitches. Remember, the incisions are done with either dissolvable or normal stitches.
• After the surgery, your dentist puts a type of surgical dressing or putty in and around the gums and teeth. It stays in place for about a week, during which, the patient is suggested to wash the mouth with antibacterial mouthwash. The surgery procedure of Gingivectomy is performed in a few easy and simple steps. However, you have to follow oral advices of your doctor post surgery for fast recovery.

Recovery

After the surgery, you are allowed to go home. It is important that you maintain a very high standard of oral hygiene. Although, you may feel certain discomfort like gum bleeding and pain when brushing your affected teeth, try to keep your teeth clean as much as possible.

After ten days post surgery, visit the doctor’s clinic once more and get your periodontal dressing removed. You are suggested to brush as normal, but be careful when brushing the impacted teeth.

In the first ten 10 days of the surgery, maintain a soft diet with lots of liquids included. After the dressing is removed, rely on a similar diet for another few days. Only after 3-4 weeks have passed after the surgery, you are able to enjoy normal brushing and having healthy foods. It can, therefore, be said that the recovery time of Gingivectomy is almost a month after which you can resume normal eating and brushing.