Oral Surgery and Gum Care Awareness

Do you know how important your gums are? Sure, you might know that they’re important to your oral health, but they’re just as important to your overall health. In fact, your gums not only hold your teeth in place but also act as a barrier that protects your body from bacteria. Thus, it stands to reason that you would want to keep your gums healthy.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case in adults in the United States. In fact, dentists report that gum disease is the No. 1 cause of tooth loss in adults over 35 years of age. To make matters even worse, this number shows no signs of falling.

Dental professionals, however, hope to curb the rise of gum disease every September with gum care awareness. The goal is to use this month to talk about the risks of gum disease and how you can prevent it. Below is a bit more information about gum disease and how an oral surgeon can help reverse gum disease if you already have it.

It’s time to check in with your dentist in Northern Virginia! Call today to make an appointment to ensure your gums and teeth are healthy.

A Quick Explanation of Gum Disease

There’s a good chance that you’ve already heard of gum disease, and you may already know what it is. For those who don’t, gum disease is a type of infection in your gums. Basically, this infection starts when you don’t care for your gums properly.

Gum disease is so dangerous because it’s a progressive disease. If it’s left untreated, it will continue to get worse. In fact, the first stage of gum disease is fairly easy to treat if you seek professional help early. Dentists refer to this first stage as gingivitis.

From there, it progresses into periodontitis, which can cause problems for not only your gums but also the bones around the roots of your teeth as well. Additionally, gum disease can cause a number of other health problems. For example, it has been linked to serious diseases, such as oral cancer.

Why Seek Out an Oral Surgeon?

As mentioned above, the first stage of gum disease typically involves noninvasive treatment. Treating gum disease at this early stage involves a deep cleaning and maybe some scaling. Once your gum disease progresses past this point, your dentist alone can no longer treat it. You need the help of an oral surgeon to reverse all of the damage that the gum disease has caused.

The important thing to remember is that your oral surgeon can fix problems that a regular dentist can’t. From reshaping your jawbone to performing gum graft surgery, a Northern Virginia oral surgeon will work hard to fix the damage that gum disease causes.

Gum Disease Surgeries

There are a few surgeries that your oral surgeon could perform to reverse the damage caused by gum disease. You may not need all of these surgeries, but your oral surgeon will let you know which ones are right for you.

Flap Surgery

Flap surgery is a great choice for individuals who have significant tartar buildup in the pockets of their gums. This surgery is done by lifting your gums away from your teeth so that the tartar can be removed easily. Afterward, the surgeon simply reattaches the gums. After the healing process, your gums are as good as new, and your mouth is tartar free.

Bone Grafting Surgery

Did you know that gum disease can destroy the bone around your teeth as well as your gums? It’s true, and when gum disease progresses this far, your only option is to get grafting surgery. During this surgery, the surgeon replaces the bone that has been destroyed.

Surgeons have a few options when it comes to restoring the bone. Sometimes, they get the bone from a donor. Other times, they use bone from your own body. A third option is to use manufactured bone as the replacement. Talk to your oral surgeon to find out which option is best for you.

Tissue Grafting Surgery

It’s far more common for your tissue to get damaged than your bone when suffering from gum disease. Thankfully, there’s a surgery that can help with that. When your gumline recedes as a result of gum disease, your oral surgeon can use tissue grafting to restore the missing tissue.

This surgery involves taking tissue from another area of your body and attaching it to your gums. Typically, surgeons use similar tissue as the gums, such as the tissue from the roof of the mouth.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Oral Surgery?

The time it takes to recover from oral surgery depends on a number of factors. For instance, you have to take into account the age and health of the individual undergoing surgery. Also, the type of surgery performed plays a big role in how long the recovery takes.

The good news is that you won’t have to wonder how long it takes to recover because your oral surgeon will let you know for your specific case. Your surgeon will also provide instructions on how to speed up your recovery.

The main thing to remember is that you want to take it easy after your surgery. Avoid strenuous activity, smoking, and eating solid foods. For the first few days after surgery, you should stick with eating only soft foods and drinking plenty of fluids.

Let Us Help You With All of Your Oral Surgery Needs

There’s only so much that you can do to keep your gums healthy. Despite your best efforts, you might find yourself in need of an oral surgeon who can reverse any damage that gum disease might have caused. If you’re looking for oral surgery in Northern Virginia, you’ve come to the right place. We strive to offer affordable services that you can count on.

Remember, September is the month to put the health of your gums first. If you have more questions about oral surgery or gum disease, give us a call.