Is flap surgery the best option right now?

[tia123456789]

Hi everyone!

I went to the dentist and they found a few pockets that are 6mm in depth and one area showing slight bone loss. The gum specialist kept saying my teeth are not that bad. Same with the dentist. But at the same time he says I should just skip the deep cleaning including planing and scaling, and go straight to flap surgery. I feel like the information is contradicting, my gums are "not bad" but then I have to go for the most invasive procedure? Is it unusual for someone to skip deep cleaning with planing and scaling and go straight to flap surgery?

The gum specialist says that the reason he wants to do the flap surgery is because deep cleaning is not effective enough. He says it could miss a spot of tartar and then the bacteria could grow underneath without me knowing ie: the outer gums will look great but then inside could have bacterial growth. It will be a false indicator of my gum health. Have any of you people with 6mm pockets have just have deep cleaning (scaling and planning) and found this is good enough? Ie: what is the long term effectiveness of just this deep cleaning (5 years)? Do you find that the majority of the patients who do a deep cleaning end up having to do flap surgery in the end?

Thank you Tia

 

[tia123456789]

Hello anyone?

 

[jill turner]

Hi,

I was wondering the outcome of your gum pocket situation.

I'm having the same problem.

Did you end up having the flap surgery?

Thanks for any help,

 

[Uptown101]

The flap procedure is necessary when severe gum disease (periodontitis) has damaged the bones that support your teeth. Healthy pockets typically measures 1-3 millimeters and it may require some type of periodontal disease treatment. Pocket depths that are deeper than 6 mm are usually an indication of more advanced gum disease. You may need surgery for severe gum disease (periodontitis) and it was called Flap Surgery.

A flap procedure cleans the roots of a tooth and repairs bone damage caused by a gum disease. The doctor will pull back a section of your gums to clean the roots of your teeth and repair damaged bone. Typically it takes only a few days to recover from a flap procedure. Be sure to follow the home care instructions that your dentist or oral surgeon gives you.

 

[jill turner]

The flap procedure is necessary when severe gum disease (periodontitis) has damaged the bones that support your teeth. Healthy pockets typically measures 1-3 millimeters and it may require some type of periodontal disease treatment. Pocket depths that are deeper than 6 mm are usually an indication of more advanced gum disease. You may need surgery for severe gum disease (periodontitis) and it was called Flap Surgery.

A flap procedure cleans the roots of a tooth and repairs bone damage caused by a gum disease. The doctor will pull back a section of your gums to clean the roots of your teeth and repair damaged bone. Typically it takes only a few days to recover from a flap procedure. Be sure to follow the home care instructions that your dentist or oral surgeon gives you.

 

[jill turner]

Thanks for responding to my post.

I'm guessing you went ahead with the flap surgery because the deep cleaning was not enough?

How was the recovery from the surgery.

Thanks