Plaque, a sticky, clear liquid is continuously formed in the mouth. Failure to remove it every day allows it to harden into tartar. Continued neglect allows it to grow deeper, thus providing bacteria with comfortable conditions to multiply. This leads to gingivitis, which can further develop into periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. Advanced periodontitis calls for gum surgery.

Regular brushing twice with fluoride toothpaste for two whole minutes and interdental cleaning is required to prevent such conditions from developing.

Gingival flap surgery
One of the largely conducted procedures is the gingival flap surgery or pocket reduction surgery. This is done to remove the plaque below the gums, which often settles deep down. The oral or periodontal surgeon opens a flap of requisite size and folds it back under a local anesthetic. Then the surgeon removes all the infection and damaged tissues.

The surgeon removes the plaque down to the roots. He/she then planes the teeth and other structures, and leaves a smooth surface that is not conducive to plaque accumulation. The gum is secured with stitches. Post-surgery follow-up medication, stitch removal, and checkups are important to realize the full benefits of the procedure.

Crown lengthening
Crown lengthening has been resorted to for medico-cosmetic reasons. This leaves the tooth longer and the smile more attractive. Soft tissue grafting is another procedure that meets the dual objectives of medical and cosmetics. The surgeon opens a gum flap, selects tissues from other sites in the mouth, and then harvests and secures them to the gum. Leaving the gums scanty can expose the root, thus causing tooth sensitivity and increased chances of diseases. Besides, very short gums look unseemly and do not make the smile look very attractive.

Regenerative surgery
Regenerative surgery is employed when deeper structures like jaw bone need restoration. Here, a gum flap of required length is folded back. After removing all the infection and damaged tissues a suitable bone taken from a suitable place is grafted into the gap in the jaw and fixed if necessary.

Then, different proteins stimulating the growth of the required tissues in the needed combination is placed and the gum flap is secured with stitches. In the follow-up, checkups, medication, and removal of stitches is done at the appropriate time.

Implant surgery
The other common type of gum surgery is implant surgery. In this procedure, the gum is opened as usual. The required sockets are drilled, reamed, and threaded. Titanium posts are screwed in.

After this, the gums are stitched up, and the stitches are opened at the due date depending on the healing. Periodontal tissues are allowed to heal completely, and the gums are later opened to expose the posts. An artificial color adjusted crown is fitted in and the gum is closed up. Implants may be done for any number of teeth or the entire denture. These are the closest teeth to resemble human teeth that technology can offer.