Osseous Surgery
Restoring Periodontal Health by Creating a Stable, Maintainable Foundation
When periodontal disease has caused significant destruction of the bone supporting your teeth, non-surgical treatment alone may not always be enough to eliminate infection or create an environment that can be maintained long term.
In these situations, osseous surgery allows Dr. Malloy to directly access the diseased areas, thoroughly remove bacterial deposits, and reshape the supporting bone and gum tissues to create a healthier, more maintainable foundation around your teeth.
Our goal is always the same: preserve your natural teeth whenever predictable long-term success is possible.
When Is Osseous Surgery Recommended?
Osseous surgery may be recommended when:
Deep periodontal pockets remain after initial therapy
Bacterial deposits cannot be predictably removed with non-surgical treatment alone
Bone loss has created irregular anatomy that traps bacteria
Persistent inflammation remains despite excellent home care and periodontal maintenance
Regenerative procedures are not predictable for a particular defect
Every recommendation is based on a comprehensive periodontal examination and a discussion of all available treatment options.
What Happens During Osseous Surgery?
The procedure is performed comfortably using local anesthesia.
A small incision allows the gum tissue to be gently reflected, providing direct access to the root surfaces and the supporting bone beneath the gums.
Once the area is fully visible, Dr. Malloy will:
Remove bacterial deposits and calculus from the root surfaces
Eliminate inflamed or infected tissue
Smooth root surfaces where appropriate
Carefully reshape irregular bone created by periodontal disease
Reduce deep periodontal pockets
Reposition the gum tissue to create a healthy, maintainable architecture
When appropriate, regenerative procedures such as bone grafting or Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) may also be performed to rebuild areas of lost bone rather than simply reshape them.
Why Is Bone Reshaping Necessary?
Periodontal disease often destroys bone in an uneven pattern.
These irregular areas create deep pockets where bacteria can continue to thrive despite brushing, flossing, and even professional cleanings.
By carefully reshaping the affected areas, we create an environment that is:
Easier to keep clean
Less likely to harbor harmful bacteria
More stable over the long term
Better suited for periodontal maintenance
The objective is not to remove healthy bone, but to establish a healthy architecture that supports long-term periodontal stability.
Recovery
Most patients experience only mild to moderate discomfort that is well managed with prescribed or over-the-counter medications.
Following surgery, we provide detailed instructions regarding:
Oral hygiene
Diet
Activity
Medications
Follow-up visits
Healing typically occurs over several weeks, with complete maturation of the tissues continuing over the following months.
Long-Term Success
Osseous surgery treats the damage caused by periodontal disease, but long-term success depends on controlling the bacterial biofilm that caused the disease in the first place.
Regular periodontal maintenance, excellent home care, and management of individual risk factors are essential for preserving the results of treatment.
Our Philosophy
At Malloy Perio, osseous surgery is never the starting point—it is one of several treatment options used when it offers the most predictable long-term outcome.
Whenever possible, we begin with conservative therapies such as Perioscopy-assisted scaling and root planing or LANAP® Laser Therapy. When regeneration is possible, we pursue techniques that rebuild lost support. When reshaping the tissues provides the best opportunity for long-term health, osseous surgery remains an exceptionally predictable and effective treatment.
Every recommendation is individualized with one guiding principle:
Preserve your natural teeth whenever possible while creating a healthy, comfortable, and maintainable foundation for life.