Gingivectomy: Treating Advanced Gum Disease

Advanced cases of gum disease can require periodontal surgery in order to restore oral health. If your case cannot be adequately treated using non-surgical methods, Dr. E. Richard Hughes can perform gingivectomy surgery at his Loudoun County, VA, dental practice serving greater Sterling. This process involves gently removing diseased tissue. Once you have recovered from this procedure, you can experience restored oral health and a more attractive gum line.

For more than 20 years, patients have trusted Dr. Hughes to treat their smiles. Dr. Hughes is an honored fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry.

Although early stages of gum disease can be reversed, some cases of advanced gum disease may require the removal of diseased tissue in order to control the condition.

Are You a Candidate for Gingivectomy?

Early stages of gum disease can be treated by undergoing professional dental cleanings at our dental practice. Certain mild to advanced stages of periodontitis can be treated with deep cleanings that involve scaling and root planing. When patients have advanced stages of gum disease that cannot be adequately treated using non-surgical techniques, gingivectomy may be needed to restore oral health. 

During your examination, Dr. Hughes will examine your gums and supporting structures. If the gum disease has advanced to the point where the infection is jeopardizing the ligaments and bone supporting the teeth, gingivectomy may be required to restore oral health.

Dr. Hughes can determine the most conservative means of restoring your periodontal health.

Benefits of Gingivectomy

The main benefit of gingivectomy is the restoration of oral health. A gingivectomy can allow you to retain your teeth and avoid the need for tooth extraction. Benefits of gingivectomy include:

  • The removal of diseased tissue
  • Reduction in the depth of pockets (the space between the gum tissue and the teeth)
  • A more attractive smile
  • A safe and effective procedure
  • Improved oral health
  • Preservation of natural teeth and bone tissue

A Look at the Procedure

Your gingivectomy will be performed using local anesthesia to maintain your comfort. If necessary, Dr. Hughes offers nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation options to help patients feel more comfortable during treatment. Once you are comfortable, your oral surgeon will trim and remove infected gum tissue. Your surgeon will be as conservative as possible during this stage. Once the pockets of infection have been removed, any incisions will be sutured, and surgical dressing will be placed over the area to reduce bleeding.

You will be given specific recovery guidelines that should be closely followed. Those guidelines may include using antibacterial mouthwash during recovery. Following the outpatient surgery, patients should return home and plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Full recovery generally takes less than a month. During a follow-up visit at our Sterling dental practice, Dr. Hughes will determine how successful the surgery was. To prevent the return of advanced infection, it will be important to schedule regular visits to our dental practice for dental cleanings and exams, and to brush twice and floss at least once each day.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Gingivectomy restores oral health and prevents the need for a tooth extraction. If you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, such as red or inflamed gum tissue, please contact Dr. Hughes by reaching our Loudoun County practice online or calling (703) 444-1152. He can determine the most conservative means of restoring your periodontal health.