Osseous surgery, sometimes referred to as pocket reduction surgery, refers to a number of different surgeries aimed at gaining access to the tooth roots to remove tartar and disease-causing bacteria, as well as control bony contours to re-position gum tissues close to the bone and thereby reduce pocket depth.  Surgery also allows access for bone grafting to regenerate lost bone support of teeth, where this may be indicated. Osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. It is a common necessity in effective treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases.

The initial stage of treatment for periodontal disease is usually a thorough, deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, or SRP. The objective of these non-surgical procedures is to remove etiologic agents such as dental plaque and tartar, or calculus, which cause gingival inflammation and disease. Scaling and root planing removes bacterial deposits on the root surfaces under the gums, allowing the gums to heal.  SRP may be your only treatment for cases of gingivitis and early periodontitis, but is also included in treatment for more severe disease.

Although many patients find wearing an upper denture acceptable, some people find it difficult to wear and eat with lower dentures. Several implant-supported replacement options are available if you are missing all of your lower teeth. One option is to have two implants placed in your lower jaw and a denture made that snaps onto these implants. This option allows your lower denture to be more stable while chewing than without implants. However, there will still be movement of your denture, though it will likely be significantly more stable and comfortable.

A frenum is a naturally occurring muscle attachment, most commonly noted between the front teeth (either upper or lower). It connects the inner aspect of the lip with the gum. A lack of attached gingiva, in conjunction with a high (closer to the biting surface) frenum attachment, which exaggerates the pull on the gum margin, can result in recession. Additionally, an especially high frenum can prevent the teeth from coming together resulting in a gap between the front teeth.