Periodontal Surgery · Makati

Periodontal Surgery

Surgical treatment for advanced gum disease — pocket reduction, regeneration of lost bone where possible, and crown lengthening procedures. Recommended only when non-surgical periodontal therapy has not been sufficient, and approached conservatively when it is.

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At a glance

Surgical step when deep cleaning is not enough

Pocket reduction, regeneration, crown lengthening

Performed under local anaesthesia by quadrant

Specialist referral when scope demands it

Long-term maintenance is half the success

Overview

When non-surgical therapy has not been enough

Most cases of gum disease respond well to non-surgical treatment — professional cleaning for mild cases, and deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) for moderate cases. Surgery is reserved for situations where pocket depths remain too deep to clean effectively, where bone has been lost in patterns that won't reverse on their own, or where access for restorative work requires reshaping the gum line around the tooth.

Periodontal surgery at DevelopDent is approached conservatively. The first question at every consultation is whether further non-surgical management could still achieve stability — surgery is recommended only when the case has reached the point where it offers a meaningfully better outcome.

Periodontal surgery sits within oral surgery at DevelopDent. For routine preventive gum care, see professional cleaning; for non-surgical periodontal therapy, see deep cleaning.

Types of Procedure

What periodontal surgery includes

The label "periodontal surgery" covers a small family of related procedures, each with a specific clinical indication.

Pocket reduction (flap surgery)

For deep periodontal pockets that cannot be cleaned to the base with non-surgical instruments. A small gum flap is raised, the root surfaces are thoroughly cleaned under direct vision, and the gum is replaced at a level that allows daily home cleaning to reach the previous depth.

Regenerative procedures

In selected cases of localised bone loss, regenerative techniques — bone graft material, biologic membranes, or growth-factor agents — can encourage the body to rebuild some of the lost periodontal support. Indications are case-specific and not all defects respond.

Crown lengthening

Reshaping the bone and gum around a tooth to expose more tooth structure — sometimes to allow a restoration to seal properly, sometimes to address an excessively gummy smile. Distinct from cosmetic gum contouring in that it involves bone, not just soft tissue.

When referral is the right answer

Advanced or full-mouth surgical periodontal work — particularly cases that need a periodontist's deeper specialism in regeneration or implant-site development — is referred. DevelopDent does the periodontal surgery that fits a general-practice scope, and refers what does not.

Who Benefits

Who is a candidate for periodontal surgery?

Surgery is considered when one or more of the following persist after non-surgical periodontal therapy:

Periodontal pockets remaining over 5–6 mm despite deep cleaning

Persistent bleeding on probing at deep sites

Progressive bone loss visible on follow-up imaging

Localised bone defect amenable to regeneration

Restorations that cannot seal cleanly above the gum line

Gum tissue overgrowing onto teeth and blocking access

Maintenance is half the success Periodontal surgery does not cure gum disease — it creates a more cleanable environment so daily oral hygiene and periodic professional cleaning can keep the disease at bay. Patients who return to the same hygiene habits that caused the disease tend to relapse. The maintenance plan is part of the surgical plan.

The Process

What surgery looks like

Periodontal Re-Assessment

Detailed pocket charting, bleeding indices, and imaging after non-surgical therapy. The treating dentist confirms that surgery offers a better outcome than continued non-surgical management.

Treatment Plan and Sequencing

Cases are usually treated by quadrant — one section of the mouth per appointment — so recovery is manageable and outcomes can be evaluated before moving to the next area. Written plan and cost discussion before the first surgery.

Local Anaesthesia and Flap Access

Local anaesthesia is applied. A small flap of gum is raised to expose the root surfaces and bone around the affected teeth. The exposure is the minimum needed to do the work cleanly.

Cleaning, Reshaping, or Regeneration

The exposed root surfaces are thoroughly cleaned under direct vision. Where bone reshaping or regeneration is part of the plan, the bone is contoured or graft material is placed, and a membrane positioned to direct healing.

Closure and Sutures

The gum flap is repositioned and sutured. Detailed aftercare instructions are given — diet for the first week, oral hygiene around the surgical site, what to expect.

Healing, Review, Maintenance

Sutures removed at 7 to 14 days. Soft tissue healing typically completes within 4 to 6 weeks; bone remodelling continues over months. A maintenance schedule — usually 3-month recalls for the first year — is the long-term safeguard for the surgical result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about periodontal surgery

Will my gums grow back where they were?

Generally no — gum that has receded due to bone loss does not return without regenerative intervention. Periodontal surgery aims to stabilise the current level and prevent further loss; in selected cases, regenerative techniques can rebuild some support. The treating dentist will be honest about what is realistic for your case.

How long is recovery?

Soft tissue typically heals visibly within 1 to 2 weeks. Most patients return to normal activities within a few days. Full bone remodelling continues for months and is evaluated on follow-up examinations and imaging.

Is the surgery painful?

Local anaesthesia is used throughout, so the procedure itself is not painful. Mild to moderate discomfort for 3 to 5 days afterward is normal and managed with prescribed or over-the-counter analgesics. Most patients describe recovery as more manageable than expected.

Will my teeth feel sensitive afterward?

Some short-term temperature sensitivity is common because root surfaces become more exposed after pocket reduction. This typically improves over weeks and is managed with desensitising toothpaste and, if needed, in-clinic desensitising treatments.

What happens if I do not have the surgery recommended?

Untreated active periodontal disease progresses — leading to further bone loss, eventual tooth mobility, and tooth loss over years. Surgery is recommended when non-surgical management has reached its ceiling; declining the recommendation usually means accepting ongoing progression. The trade-offs are discussed honestly.

Will I need surgery on the whole mouth?

Not necessarily. Many cases need surgery only in specific quadrants where pocket depths remained problematic after non-surgical therapy. The treatment plan is structured around what each area actually needs.

Legazpi Village,
Makati

DevelopDent is located on the ground floor of Legaspi Tower 200 on Paseo de Roxas — a short walk from Greenbelt and accessible from across Makati CBD, Salcedo Village, and BGC.

Directions and getting here →

Address

1st Floor, Legaspi Tower 200
107 Paseo de Roxas Street
Legazpi Village, Makati, 1229

Nearest Landmarks

Legazpi Village · near Greenbelt
Ayala Triangle · Salcedo Village