Flap Surgery: What you need to know and how to prevent it

Flap surgery is a hot topic, especially if you are dealing with severe gum disease. Recently, we have received several calls from people who are worried about this procedure and would prefer to avoid having to undergo it. In this blog post, we take a closer look at when flap surgery is necessary and what you can do as a patient to avoid it.

We cover the following topics in this blog:
– When is a flap surgery recommended?
– Flap Surgery: what is it?
– After treatment
– Prevention is better than cure
– It starts with good basic oral care
– Supportive tools for a healthy mouth
– Cost and insurance of flap surgery

When is a flap surgery recommended?

Flap surgery is usually recommended when there is advanced gingivitis, also known as periodontitis. This is caused by the accumulation of bacteria in plaque, which is a barely visible layer of bacteria and food particles on the teeth. If plaque is not removed regularly through brushing and flossing, it can harden into tartar, aggravating the inflammation. In the case of periodontitis, if the pockets (the space between the teeth and gums) are very deep (8 to 9 mm), plaque and tartar can remain in the pockets. These deep pockets are often the result of gum recession and can lead to severe gum inflammation (ginigivitis) and eventually tooth loss. When, despite intensive treatment at the dentist/mouth hygienist and your optimal dental care, deep inflamed gum pockets still persist, flap surgery is performed, if desired, to halt the periodontitis.

Click here to read more about the symptoms, risk factors, and consequences of periodontitis.

When a flap surgery surgery is suggested by the dentist, it can often come as a shock to many people.

Flap Surgery: what is it?

In flap surgery, under local anaesthesia, the gums are detached and sidelined. The inflamed tissue is then removed. This makes the roots of the teeth and the edge of the jawbone easily visible and accessible. Plaque and tartar can now be properly removed. The gums are corrected to reduce the depth of pockets, then a suture is placed. Since there is no more plaque and tartar on the teeth after flap surgery, the inflammation can disappear and healthy gums can reattach to the teeth.

After treatment

After flap surgery, you may experience pain and swelling in the first few days, but these can be relieved with painkillers and a cooling pack against the cheek. The operated area should be left in peace during healing, so brushing or ragging is not allowed in that area until the sutures are removed. Dental plaque on teeth can obstruct the healing process. Therefore, you should rinse regularly with a mouthwash, as it inhibits plaque formation. Bluem oxygen fluid, a gentle medical mouthwash, and Bluem oral gel, a gel with a high concentration of active oxygen, are specially developed to accelerate wound healing. They increase the oxygen level in the mouth, enabling faster wound healing.

Of course, you should maintain cleaning of the non-operated parts of the mouth in the usual way. The sutures are removed after about 14 days. After flap surgery, the gums may recede a little, which may cause the teeth to look longer. Fortunately, this change is often not immediately visible because the lips cover part of the teeth. When the gums are pulled back, the nerve beneath is exposed. This can cause pain when eating cold, hot, sour and sweet foods. This is usually temporary and disappears after a few weeks to months. Good oral hygiene with the combination of toothpaste and mouthwash is crucial here. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and make sure to brush gently to avoid damaging the surface of your teeth and gums. Reducing the number of mealtimes can also help.

The main goal of treating severe gum disease (such as periodontitis) is to ensure that your teeth are preserved for life. This is only possible if you prevent gum disease from recurring. You achieve this by removing all plaque from your teeth daily. Good oral hygiene is therefore not only necessary during treatment, but also forms the basis for a healthy future!

In daily practice, regular check-ups and supervision by a dentist / periodontist or dental hygienist remain important, even after treatment, to ensure that your oral health is maintained. If you have had periodontitis in the past, deeper pockets may still be present, even if they are not currently inflamed. These spots always remain vulnerable to reinfection. People who have faced periodontitis before should be extra vigilant and take their oral care very seriously to avoid recurrence.

Prevention is better than cure

If you have periodontitis but want to avoid flap surgery, it is important to get your gums healthy again. Good oral hygiene is essential, as this reduces the chance for plaque and bacteria to spread under the gumline. By using active oxygen, we try to prevent or solve gum problems.

Supportive tools for a healthy mouth

Bluem Oral Gel: The Power of Oxygen
After you have completed basic oral care, apply Bluem oral gel to areas where gums are sore and red and/or where there are deep pockets. The gel contains a higher concentration of active oxygen and increases oxygen saturation in the mouth. This speeds up the healing of bleeding and inflamed gums in your mouth. The gel can be applied with a cotton swab or a clean finger. If you have many pockets, put a little gel on an interdental brush to get between the spaces of the teeth/teeth. If you first dry the areas with a cotton swab, the gel will adhere even better.

We often get the following feedback: “I cannot apply the gel exactly to the wound/pocket or it spreads quickly in the mouth due to the somewhat slippery substance”. This is not an issue! The active oxygen molecule of oral gel is so small that it can quickly penetrate the tissue. Cell communication ensures that it gets to the right spot, so you don’t have to apply the gel to the millimetre. It is also not a problem for the gel to spread a little through the mouth; it is actually the mucous membranes that absorb the active ingredients well. After applying the gel, wait half an hour before eating or drinking for good absorption; swallowing is of course allowed.

Bluem Teeth & Bone formula: Nutritional supplements
One way to improve the health of your gums is by using nutritional supplements such as Bluem Teeth & Bone formula. These supplements are specially designed to support the health of your teeth and bones and can play an additional role in your oral care routine. Many people are deficient in vitamins (D3 and K2) and minerals (calcium and magnesium) often due to stress. Your body breaks down important nutritional values when you are under a lot of stress; bleeding gums are often a first sign.

Bluem Dental Chewing Gum
Bluem dental chewing gum stimulates saliva flow and makes your mouth feel less dry. Saliva prevents damage from bacteria in mouth.

Bluem Mouth spray
Bluem mouth spray is good to use after meals to maintain oral balance due to the active oxygen present, between brushing sessions (perfect for smokers).

Bluem Problem Care Solutions
The Bluem Problem Care Solutions is a value-packed box consisting of professional oral care products to help you recover from oral problems quickly and safely.

Cost and insurance of flap surgery

As for the cost of flap surgery to heal the gums, it is important to note that it often involves significant expenses. It is wise to check with your dentist beforehand about the estimated cost of the procedure. It is worth noting that basic health insurance does not cover flap surgery for adults. Fortunately, supplementary insurance can often partially cover the treatment. It is advisable to contact your health insurance company for more information on reimbursements for flap surgery.

Flap surgery is a serious procedure that you would rather avoid. Fortunately, there are several ways to improve your oral health and reduce the need for such an operation. Bluem can help you prevent and treat gum disease and contribute to a healthier mouth. Remember that it is important to visit your dentist or dental hygienist regularly for personalised advice for your specific situation in order to prevent periodontitis. Tartar once present, mainly under the gums and in hard-to-reach areas, such as behind and between your teeth, cannot be brushed away. This must be professionally removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Do you have any questions or concerns? Then don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are here to help you!