At an early age, brushing and flossing are taught as the staples of good oral health. As kids, having our parents guide our dental care routines helps engrain certain practices, but as we get older, it is our responsibility to keep up our oral care.
A common issue that results from improper oral care is gum disease.
Studies have found that 8 out of 10 adults have a case of mild to severe gum disease.
It has been shown that men are affected more than women with gum disease. The studies show that the rate of men having gum disease is 60% while only 40% of women are affected.
If untreated, gum disease can get severe to the point where surgery is required to reverse the effects. Below are some important points to know about gum surgery if needed.
Basics of Gum Surgery
Dental gum surgery is a fairly standard procedure unless there is an extreme or unusual case present. First, a local anesthetic, like Novocaine, will be administered. Next, your periodontist will proceed with the surgery once the anesthetic has made the area numb.
If stitches are inserted during the surgery, they will be self-dissolving ones and won’t need to be taken out. Self-dissolving stitches disintegrate after 10 days after insertion. During the healing process of gum surgery, the gums will need some soft packing to ensure a safe and healthy recovery.
If you’re in pain after the surgery, over-the-counter drugs are effective for pain management. Your periodontist will prescribe any additional painkillers if he sees fit.
The points just discussed were the basics of gum surgery. Watch out for part two of our Gum Surgery article series to hear the Periodontal Associates of Memphis’s discussion on the different types of gum surgery.