OK--I'm new here...& found this a very interesting board w many very intelligent responses. Hope I can get some people that know of my procedure & share their experiences.
Past Monday (April 2-2007)--I had a "gum flap" procedure--a periodontal "surgery" by my dentist (who is also an oral surgeon)--& is really excellent!
This guy really knows his stuff & i've been to a few dentists on both coasts.
Anyway--tooth was on bottom left....2nd molar (my 3rd molar-wisdom teeth were all extracted 40 yrs ago-while in HS). The tooth had already had a root canal & crown--but gum issues started a few months later. No pain...just a 'lesion' on gum. My dentist-after x rays...concluded it was a periodontal problem...& i went thru a "gum flap" procedure--where gum is cut--peeled back....bad tissue is scraped off of bone...then I had osseous surgery---meaning the bone around the tooth was filed & smoothed-so bacteria could not creep into crevices. Then my dr. used an antibiotic paste--& filled in area under tooth with a "synthetic" bone material---so, my natural bone could grow back without gum growing in.
After--he stiched up the gum with "dissolvable" stiches. No pain or any discomfort during procedure.
But--after procedure...just a lot of ....not excruciating---just a dull ache on the gum....sometimes going up to upper tooth. Initially--tooth very tender on biting.
Dentist told me not to chew on that side for a few weeks--not to use any toothpaste on that gum (around it--OK--not on the gum/tooth area)----but to rinse it w Peridex.
Anyway--pain persisted for about 9 days---took 2 Aspirin---helped ..but finally went to 2 Motrin. That & wet hot wash cloth gave me relief.
Saw my dentist yesterday for follow up after one week---he said it looked really good....& --as it always is--the pain was really subsiding noticeably--the day i saw the dentist. He told me.."You had oral surgery--it's gonna take time!"-----
Anyway--has anyone else had this periodontal procedure? (Gum flap....osseous bone surgery)---AND--I'm curious about how many days before pain subsided! I've had 4 root canals----with that--pain usually subsides in 2 or 3 days at most. But--this is a "long one". OK--get back--anyone who has had this procedure w your feed back (recovery time)---OR...any oral surgeons....Thanks--Wotan
