Soft Tissue Surgery

Although patients typically associate oral and maxillofacial surgery with teeth and bones, a number of soft tissue procedures are expertly performed by the trusted physicians at San Antonio Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates.

Our doctors offer a number of surgical procedures to improve overall oral health and function, including:

• Gingivoplasty or Gingivectomy — This a simple procedure completed under local anesthetic with a short recovery period (typically 48 hours) when diet and oral hygiene are impacted. The purpose of the procedure is to remove excessive gum tissue that causes issues concerned with maintaining oral hygiene and cosmetic concerns.
• Frenectomy — Frenum are connective tissues that attach two parts of the body. In the oral structures, a frenectomy typically refers to the removal of a portion of the tissue that connects the tongue to the base of the mouth. The procedure is recommended for patients who are “tongue-tied,” or who have difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing due to excess frenum that limits the range of motion of the tongue. Typically performed under local anesthesia, recovery time for these procedures is short and there is typically little to no discomfort after the first 24 hours.
• Soft Tissue Grafting — When gum tissue is lost due to periodontal disease, tooth loss, infection, or oral cancer, replacement of the soft tissue is necessary in order to fully restore oral health and the appearance of smiles. Gum tissue from another location within the patient’s mouth, a tissue bank, or synthetic tissues, is carefully stitched into position. Over the course of about a month, the grafted material bonds with the natural gum line. Recovery is more complex with soft tissue grafts, and a post-operative care plan will be designed for each individual based on the location and extent of the graft.