Is Osseous Surgery Painful?
To ensure you do not experience any pain during the osseous surgical procedure, a local anesthetic (or multiple) will be administered prior to the procedure. Patients who have extreme tooth or gum sensitivity and/or who have heightened anxiety at having a dental procedure performed, or who struggle with sitting still for extended periods of time may also be given dental sedation, which will place the individual in a more relaxed state while throughout the procedure.
Though you will not experience any pain while the procedure is performed, you may begin to feel some discomfort once the effects of the anesthetic and sedation have worn off. To ensure that the osseous surgical procedure is successful and help mitigate and avoid unnecessary pain, it is essential to follow aftercare instructions, which we will discuss before and following your procedure and will include things such as:
- Limiting physical activity for two or three days, although most patients can return to work and normal activities within 24 hours
- Do not smoke or use a straw until the healing process is complete, which typically takes between seven to ten days
- Stick to softer foods like soups, mashed potatoes, applesauce, etc. for the first few days following your procedure
- Swelling can be managed with ice packs
- Pain or discomfort can be managed with over the counter or prescription pain medication
- If prescribed antibiotics, take until prescription runs out
Osseous Surgery Treatment Alternatives
Though osseous surgery is an effective method for correcting gum disease, there are other, less invasive treatment options that may be considered first. During your initial evaluation, your periodontist will perform a thorough evaluation of your overall oral health to determine the severity of your gum disease by measuring the depth of your gum pockets using a special probe. If gum disease is still in the early stages, it may be possible to correct the issue with antibiotic treatment. If gum disease is in the mild to moderate stage, a scale and root planing procedure may be sufficient in halting the progression of gum disease. Scale and root planing is a minimally invasive procedure that involves using special dental instruments to scrape the bacteria from beneath the gums, than planing or smoothing the roots to inhibit the growth of bacteria and give the gums time to heal. If gum disease has progressed in severity, a soft tissue graft may be necessary to correct recessed gums and a bone graft may be necessary to correct any jawbone deterioration.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing Gum Disease
While osseous surgery is highly effective in correcting gum disease, it is important to practice good oral hygiene habits and have a healthy lifestyle to prevent gum disease from reoccurring. Steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing gum disease in the future include:
- Brushing and flossing twice daily
- Eat a healthy balanced diet, limiting foods and beverages high in sugars and starches
- Schedule regular examinations at least every six months
- Limit or avoid alcohol
- Stop smoking (if applicable)