Periodontal flap surgery for a single quadrant in the mouth is quick and usually only takes about 45min to complete. Patients can watch TV or listen to music from personal headphones during the procedure. All procedures can also be performed under a Twilight sleep for maximum comfort if desired.
You will barely feel any pain when getting the gum flap surgery because the doctors will administer local anesthesia to suppress it. However, you may feel some discomfort after the surgery and might require some pain medications to alleviate the pain.
Discomfort: Slight swelling of the operated area is not unusual. Chapped lips or bruising of the lips / cheek area may occur. A reusable ice bag or a frozen vegetable bag, wrapped in a soft towel, may be applied to the area of surgery to help minimize the swelling of your face.
Depending on the location and size of the flap, the operation can be carried out under general or local anaesthetic. As flap surgery allows the blood supply to the repaired area to be maintained, there's a lower risk of the repair failing compared with a skin graft.
Generally, swelling and other symptoms will subside within a week or so. Along with the medication, follow your dentist's aftercare instructions strictly. Other tips to promote faster healing and recovery after a flap surgery: Rest adequately.
We will work with you during your recovery to keep your stay as short as possible. You should expect to be in the hospital for approximately 3 days.
In most medically fit patients, flap surgery which is major complex surgery is considered safe with a low complication rate.
Refrain from speaking – keeping your mouth closed will benefit your recovery pace. Besides, your gums will be tender, swollen, and painful, which will get worse if you keep opening your mouth. Your oral surgeon will recommend refraining from talking for about three days immediately after your surgery.
Right after the surgery, you will probably feel weak, and you may feel pain for 2 to 3 weeks. You will be sore in the breast and in the area where the flap was taken. You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in those areas.
Free flap surgery is considered a reliable and safe procedure for head and neck reconstruction. The success rate of a free flap described in the literature is about 95% 1-3.
Pre-Operative Guidelines:
Discontinue ASPIRIN or ASPIRIN-containing products, VITAMIN E and NONSTEROIDAL ANTI- INFLAMMATORY AGENTS (such as MOTRIN or ADVIL) 2 WEEKS prior to surgery. Aspirin and Vitamin E can increase bleeding. Avoid alcohol for 2 days before surgery and 7 to 10 days after surgery.
Root canals are considered to be the most painful because they require removing the nerve tissue on a tooth's root. The removal of the nerve tissue is not only excruciatingly painful but also commonly leads to infection.
Skin flaps are thought to provide better cosmetic results than skin grafting (Fig. 5), as the skin tone and texture are usually better matched. Additionally, they have a reduced chance of failure in comparison to skin grafts. However, flap failure remains a potential complication of the procedure*.
The majority of flap failures occur within the first 48 hours. With early recognition and intervention of flap compromise salvage is possible. Successful salvage rates range from 28% to over 90%.
Particularly in the first few weeks after surgery, sleeping on your back, while usually wearing a surgical bra, allows the breasts to heal in a more comfortable and desirable position.
Surgery Overview
A flap procedure cleans the roots of a tooth and repairs bone damage caused by gum disease. A gum specialist (periodontist) or an oral surgeon often performs the procedure. Before the procedure, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb (freeze) the area where the doctor will work on your gums.
Flap surgery is typically done under local anesthesia, sometimes accompanied by oral anti-anxiety medications; alternatively, it may be performed under intravenous conscious sedation. After anesthesia has taken effect, a small incision is made to separate the gums from the teeth.
The benefits of gingival flap surgery are clear-cut: your periodontitis will be treated and your gum health can be restored. Gum flap surgery will stop the progression of gum disease in its tracks and alleviate your pain.
For patients with advanced gum disease, a gingival flap surgery offers several benefits. The procedure can: Improve the look of your smile: By removing plaque and tartar underneath your gum line, the surgery can encourage your gum tissue to reattach to your roots, reducing the depth and appearance of gum pockets.
Pinhole Grafting
It's minimally invasive but it does help to correct any gum recession. A small hole is made in your gum line, and when this has been done, your dentist will use special instruments to try and loosen your gums.
There may be a significant correlation between worst pain at 48 hours and return to normal activity within seven days. There may be a risk that patients can not return to normal activities within seven days because of worst pain experience at 48 hours after day surgery.