Why is there a flap of skin in my mouth after wisdom teeth removal?

You may also hear it called a pericoronal flap. This flap usually occurs on wisdom teeth, but it can happen around the base of any tooth that has not erupted completely. The flap of tissue may be hard to keep clean, and food debris and bacteria can become trapped in the area, causing inflammation.

Can you remove a gum flap?

Operculectomy is the surgical procedure of removing the operculum, or the flap of gum that partially covers a tooth. This procedure is done to treat pericoronitis, a condition characterised by pain and inflammation of the operculum.

Does pericoronitis flap go away?

Unfortunately, pericoronitis won’t go away on its own. If it goes untreated, it can become dangerous after only a couple of weeks. Typically, either the flap of tissue or the wisdom tooth needs to be removed. If an infection is present, an antibiotic will be needed, as well.

What is gum flap surgery?

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 the area where the doctor will work on your gums.

Is it bad to have a gum flap?

While some operculums only partially cover a wisdom tooth, some may cover much of the chewing surface. If the flap is large, you can have an increased risk of biting the adjacent cheek tissue or the operculum itself. You can keep your enamel and attached gingiva clean with both brushing and flossing.

Are gum flaps bad?

The flap can trap food and lead to a gum infection. They come in crooked or facing the wrong direction. Your jaw isn’t large enough to give them room. Your wisdom teeth may get stuck (impacted) in your jaw and not be able to break through your gums.

How do you get rid of wisdom teeth flaps?

An excision with a scalpel is the conventional method and an economical option, but you may experience more bleeding and a longer recovery time. With electrocautery, your dentist can send a mild current through the gum tissue. The heat from the current can cause the flap to break down.

How do you remove the gum flap from wisdom teeth?

Minor surgery to remove the operculum: If the pain and inflammation are severe, or if the pericoronitis recurs, it may be necessary to have oral surgery to remove the gum flap or wisdom tooth. Your dentist can make the appropriate referral to the oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Is gum flap bad?

How long does it take for a gum flap to heal?

Healing usually is quick. Most patients are fully healed in just one to two weeks.

Can a flap on a wisdom tooth be removed?

No need to panic, the flap can be removed with a minor oral surgery. However, the tissue can grow back, and if the molar is impacted and it’s determined that it won’t grow in correctly, the best course of treatment is likely an extraction. Removing the wisdom tooth fully treats the problem. What is Ludwig’s Angina?

Should I have my wisdom teeth removed?

No need to panic, the flap can be removed with a minor oral surgery. However, the tissue can grow back, and if the molar is impacted and it’s determined that it won’t grow in correctly, the best course of treatment is likely an extraction. Removing the wisdom tooth fully treats the problem.

What does a fully erupted wisdom tooth look like?

A fully erupted tooth should no longer have any flap of gum tissue on its chewing surface. In the case of the lower wisdom teeth, there is typically little to no space left for the tooth to fully erupt and come out of the gum line.

Is it possible to remove the flap of skin over a tooth?

The small flap of skin over the tooth is there because the soft tissue rise in the mouth and can’t really recede exposing the full biting surface of the tooth. The picture below [1] Shows that type of situation. The flap may become irritated, inflamed and infected. This is called pericronitis. It is, on occasion, possible to remove that flap.