periodontal surgery-any advise about hope of saving teeth? - Dental Health Message Board

copperbarrow · 08-20-2006, 10:06 AM

I hope someone can give me some advise! (may I add that I've seen a dentist every 6 months for 25-30 years? and brush and floss and rinse)

About 6-8 years ago I started getting a gap between my front teeth. 3-4 years ago I discovered I had periodontal disease and had surgery on my full mouth except the front uppers and lowers.

This summer I went to an orthodontist to see about Invisaline braces on the upper teeth to close the gap. He was willing but said go see your dentist before I do this to make sure your mouth is healthy.

The dentist measured the pockets in my mouth, which I did't even know had come back. One was up to a 7, not good! Back to the periodontist, (who I've seen every three months since the surgery). He agreed I needed a "touch up" before I got braces. The most disturbing but not surprising thing is the dentist found pockets of 5-6mm between my top front teeth right where the gap is! (Notice I said dentist, not periodontist found them)

Anyway, So I had surgery again of my upper molars plus between the front teeth 12 days ago. Well guess what? After the surgery the gap has almost closed by itself! I am surprised and happy about that! Now the gap looks so much better I'm not sure I need Invisalign braces at all. There is about a 1mm gap left, it had been 4-5 mm wide! (But, now there is some gum missing between them and it looks like a black hole there, I don't like that and don't know if it will fill in with healing) Also, this morning I think it looks a little wider, not sure.

Now here's what's also worrying me: My gums are still so tender post op that I'm having a little trouble flossing and brushing. Though I use a proxibrush twice a day, I had bought these little sticks to clean your teeth. They are soft blue rubbery tips and are pointed. Well I got to pushing around with them just a little and discovered the pockets are still pretty deep between my front teeth. I hope I didn't do any damage sticking them in there. It didn't hurt and nothing bled. Now I'm worried the surgery didn't take care of those pockets. Thus the disease is still there?

One of my front teeth is bonded because I broke it when I was 13. It is stained and needs rebonded. The dentist said that after I got my gap closed (post invisalign) he would rebond it.

I'm now wondering if front teeth are doomed. Since I found pockets does that mean the surgery was a failure? I want to have a nice smile like I used to have! Should I just get the front teeth pulled and get implants? Will the implants work where there was periodontal disease? I'm very tired of going in circles trying to have a pretty smile.

Does anyone have a similar story or advise for me?

Thelma-Louise · 08-20-2006, 07:06 PM

Oh boy....I would try to hold on to your front teeth as long as you can. I wish I can give more encouraging news although you sound like your gums and teeth responded better than mine did. I had a front tooth root canaled due to an injury when younger. Afterwards had braces to straighten them since they got pushed in by the accident. 7 yrs after the braces quite suddenly had severe pockets on the front teeth. Did surgery but they only lasted a year and started to loosen and flange and hurt, so had them removed and had implants done, front top and bottom. 5 implants all together with brdiges cemented on them. They were fine for 7 years (told they would last a lifetime) but after 2 new brdiges were done, started to have pain and the implants started to get infections. Had numerous surgeries to clear the infections, developed severe tmj, and recently had all the implants removed. But both my parents had poor dental histories so it might be due to genes. I too was very meticulus with my teeth and went to my regular dentist 2 times a year and a perio 4 times a year. I think if I had it all to do again I would have went with partials - at the time though I was only 30 and not married and the thought of it blew me away - but now I am nearly 50, still not married, and just wish I did not have any pain. When I think of all the surgeries for the perio and implants and all the pain, now I feel like it was not worth it. It is still too soon after your surgery to determine how long your front teeth will last. Keep going to the perio and ask him if you should be poking around them so often or if flossing might not be better. Maybe your dentist can fill in the tiny gap when he rebonds the front tooth. But do what you can to hold onto your front teeth. I wish I had my crooked front teeth back than what I have been through - be thankful yu have a tiny gap and your front teeth - there is nothing like them. I am sure there are some that have had a better experience than I and maybe even ended up with nicer theeth than what they were born with - but I am not one of them, and I have spent literally thousands on my teeth.