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Gum flap surgery is a dental procedure which involves a separation of the teeth and the gums. With this treatment, it will provide the dentist a direct access to the root bone. If you happen to have a severe and frequent infection in the gum area to the point that antibiotics no longer work effectively, your dentist may recommend a gum flap surgery.
The procedure is usually performed by a dental specialist (periodontist) or an oral surgeon. During the surgery, the doctor will first give you a local anesthesia to help numb the area. Then they will draw back your gums using a scalpel and cleans the roots of your teeth. If needed, they even go extra to repair the damaged bone. In several occasions, the surgeon can either:
i.Smooth and reshape the bone to depress the growth of plaques, and
ii.Perform a bone repair or grafting with another bone from other parts of the body or with artificial materials.
The flapped gum with then is sewn back to its normal setting. To stop bleeding, your doctor will cover the wound with gauze.
What to expect after the surgery 
It takes about 10 days to recover from the surgery. Therefore, after the surgery, your doctor will prescribe you with home care instructions to aid in quick healing. The following are some instructions to follow strictly.
- You can rinse your mouth after 24 hours using warm salt water to reduce swelling or pain.
- Take the prescribed drugs as recommended by the doctor.
- Refrain from taking strenuous exercises as they may induce bleeding.
- Do not suck any liquid till you heal.
After the surgery, there are some associated risks, such as infections due to bleeding and swelling. Besides, your teeth may become sensitive to cold and hot water; hence, you need to take warm meals, including lukewarm water. If you follow the doctors advises and observe proper mouth hygiene, your surgery will heal quickly without any worries.
