Ten days ago I had gum surgery. Before the surgery, I looked around on the web to see if I could gain some insight into what I was about to experience. I didn’t find very much, so I am writing this to help others who may be about to have gum surgery. If that isn’t you, you probably won’t find this at all interesting. (Note: there are a bunch of comments from others about their own experiences at the end of this post.)
Corrective gum surgery for someone my age (29) is not all that common. My mother has had gum surgery twice and I’ve never really developed the flossing habit, so I was cursed with bad gum genes and laziness. This situation allowed pockets of up to 6 mm deep to form between some of my teeth and gums.
It is very difficult for flossing and brushing to remove food debris from such deep pockets. Even quarterly visits to a dental hygenist would just have maintained my condition, rather than give me healthy gums, or not help much at all. Surgery was recommended as a solution to this problem. All four quadrants, except the front.
I don’t remember anyone ever giving me specific terminology, but the procedure sounds much like the one described as flap surgery:
Surgery might be necessary if inflammation and deep pockets remain following treatment with deep cleaning and medications. A periodontist may perform flap surgery to remove tartar deposits in deep pockets or to reduce the periodontal pocket and make it easier for the patient, dentist, and hygienist to keep the area clean. This common surgery involves lifting back the gums and removing the tartar. The gums are then sutured back in place so that the tissue fits snugly around the tooth again.
Day of Surgery
My surgery was to occur at 7:15am. One hour prior I was to take one of the two Triazolam pills they had prescribed to me. They’d explained that this was supposed to relax me. Anecdotal descriptions from others said that I would not remember the actual surgery. It is a hypnotic.
My wife drove me to the surgeon’s office and we arrived promptly. I was not aware of any effect of the medication short of a slight light-headedness. The assistant placed me in the chair, gave me a blanket (it was cold), and we waited. The assistant came back, asked me how I was feeling, and I explained that I felt fine, but that I hadn’t really noticed any drug effects. She gave me the second pill.
It is at this point that my memory of the surgery becomes compressed. That is, in my memory it seems to have taken much less time than it actually did. It feels like an hour at most, but I think it was closer to two. But my point is I remember the surgery. I was relaxed, yes, but that didn’t make it any less painful when the surgeon injected a big fat needle into my mouth to numb the area he was working on. Repeatedly. Like, three or four times a quadrant.
I tend to have limited reaction to some medications, so your mileage may vary.
What I do not remember is the drive home. My wife says I was talking with her and that I kept feeling my face. I popped a pain pill (Oxycodone) and promptly fell asleep.
The Healing Process
The first day wasn’t that bad. I actually considered going to work the next day. I think the numbing agent had yet to completely wear off, because it hurt a great deal the next day. And the day after that, etc.
I had sutures in my mouth, the kind that were supposed to dissolve and fall out on their own. They had told me to try to start gentle brushing of my teeth 24 hours after surgery. The first tim
e I did it the toothbrush hooked a suture and yanked it out of my gums. I had a loop hanging down, connected to my flesh at both ends. Any further tugging caused a lot of pain, so I cut it out.
They also gave me antibiotic and an anti-bacterial mouthwash. Swishing that stuff around caused me a whole lot of hurting. But it’s all for a good cause, right?
The gums heal with a white covering. This actually looks bad, but it is good. All of the sutures had come out within a week. I ate a lot of soup, oatmeal, and applesauce and I drank a lot of liquids with a straw (I even drank my soup with a straw one day). I was able to eat more solid foods like meatloaf and mashed potatoes about three days after surgery.
Today, ten days later, I can eat any food that can be eaten in tiny, bite-sized pieces. Slowly. It still hurts a lot. The oxycodone, combined with Advil, helped, especially at night. It does not eliminate the pain, it just makes the difference between feeling pain all the time and only when you eat. After a week I found I didn’t need it anymore.
I hope that helps. It isn’t too bad an experience, you just have to be patient. Good luck.
