Osseous Surgery in Centreville, VA 20121

patient in centreville va getting teeth checked

Osseous surgery, also called pocket reduction surgery, is a procedure we give to patients with excess space between their teeth and gums at the gum line.

In a healthy mouth, there should be no more than 3 millimeters between your teeth and your gums. This space is called a pocket. If you have enlarged pockets in your gums, it becomes more difficult for you to maintain proper oral hygiene. This is because food and bacteria can more easily get inside these pockets; and without proper tools, you won’t be able to thoroughly clean them out. Even a highly-trained dental hygienist or dentist may have trouble completely cleaning out these pockets.

Gum disease can cause the pockets at your gum line to get bigger. Gum disease is caused by bacteria buildup on your teeth. If the pockets in your gums get larger, this harmful plaque bacteria can hide in the pockets and attack your gums and bone tissue at the roots of your teeth.

Without osseous surgery (pocket reduction surgery), these pockets may continue to grow, and the trapped bacteria can lead to tooth decay, tooth loss and bone loss in your jaw.

At SmileOn Dentistry, we can take care of your osseous surgery right here in our Centreville, VA dental office. Our staff take pride in maintaining a friendly, helpful environment where our patients feel comfortable. If you live in Centreville, VA 20121 or in one of our neighboring communities, schedule an examination and let us handle all of your dental health needs!

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Osseuos Surgery

The Best Dental Care in Centreville, VA 20121

Our friendly staff and expert dentists are ready to help you take control of your dental health. For more information about our services, or to schedule your appointment, call our Centreville, VA office today at (703) 495-2884!

How Does Osseous Surgery Work?

Pocket reduction surgery is a relatively fast procedure and usually takes about two hours to complete, depending on your specific circumstances. At our Centreville, VA office, Dr. Banavar will ensure that you understand the procedure and answer your questions prior to your surgery appointment. The goal of this surgery is to reduce the size of the pockets in your gums caused by gum disease.

In general, this is what to expect during your pocket reduction surgery:

You will be given a local anesthetic, meaning that you will be awake for the procedure but unable to feel it in your gums. If you would prefer a general anesthetic, please let us know before your surgery appointment.
The dentist will make an incision along your gum line to have better access to the infected area.
Then the dentist will clean out the plaque bacteria from your teeth and gums. This involves physically removing the plaque and using a special cleaning solution to get rid of the remaining bacteria.
If your bone tissue has been damaged from the bacteria, the dentist will smooth out these spots. This helps to ensure your gums will reattach to your roots when they heal.
In some cases, you may need a bone graft or similar procedure to restore the strength and shape of your jaw.
Once the procedure is complete, the dentist will stitch the incision site and cover it with a special dressing to allow it to heal.

After your pocket reduction surgery, Dr. Banavar will give you any postoperative care instructions to ensure your recovery. These instructions may include dietary changes, prescription pain relief, and avoiding certain physical activities.

If you have any questions about what you can do while you heal from pocket reduction surgery, please be sure to ask. It is important to follow Dr. Banavar’s recommendations to ensure a successful recovery.

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