Advanced Gum Disease Treated Across the Whole Mouth, with Bone Grafting
Periodontitis affecting the whole mouth, treated with flap surgery to clean the roots and reshape the bone, with bone grafting where the defects allowed regeneration. Bony growths on the upper jaw were removed at the same time. Photographed one month after surgery.
What the Patient Noticed
Bleeding, swollen gums and bad breath that did not respond to cleanings. Below the gumline, deep pockets and hardened tartar on the roots had already cost bone around many teeth. The patient also had tori, harmless bony growths on the roof of the mouth, that trapped food and got in the way of cleaning.
What Was Done
Pocket reduction surgery across the whole mouth, in stages. The gum was lifted back to reach the roots and the bone, the roots were cleaned and smoothed, and the irregular bone edge was reshaped. Where the bone loss had left defects with walls to build against, bone graft and a membrane were placed to regenerate support. The tori were removed during the same treatment. How gum disease is treated, by stage shows each of these steps.
The Result
At one month the gums are pink, firm, and tight against the teeth, with no bleeding. The disease is controlled, not cured: the patient now alternates maintenance visits between this office and their general dentist, which is what keeps a result like this.