Gum surgery problems

[Buffy2003]

I had surgery for periodontal disease performed in September 2006.  I live overseas, and this surgery was done by a dentist whom I assumed I could trust and who told me that before any work could be done on my teeth, (I had to have a previous tooth extraction due to a failed root canal by another overseas dentist, which would have necessitated a bridge instead of an implant, because there was no bone left in the gum area of the missing tooth)I absolutely had to have surgery. The gum surgery (both upper and lower) was a terrible ordeal and my mouth is worse now than it ever was.  The dentist left huge gaps in my teeth (making the teeth longer), because he claimed he had to remove much of the gum due to decay.  My inner cheeks and my tongue are constantly filled with sores, because of the huge gaps left in my teeth after this operation.  The dentist claims there is nothing he can do about it and that "at least my gum disease is gone and if I didn't brush my teeth for three months, the gaps would fill up." I know many people who have had this operation done in the US and none of them have had these problems.  Could you please advise if there is any way, if I return to the US, I could correct the damage this dentist has done to me.  My life is miserable as result of this.  Thank you.

[Buffy2003]

Thank you.  I am interested to hear of anyone else who might have had the same thing happen.  At no point did my dentist mention that I would have any problems following surgery.  If he were honest and truly a professional, he should have mentioned this possibility.  I am still astounded at the results.  One of his hygienists told me that other people had also complained.  What recourse do we have?  Is there anywhere I could report this to avoid someone else having to suffer what I am suffering?  I live in Rome, Italy.  Thank you.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

At this point you can not 'fill in' the areas that were removed during the perio surgery. It is possible to close those areas contouring the teeth with a bonding material. This material is bonded to the tooth structure and closes the embrasures(spaces between the teeth),to the point that the areas do not contrictthe gums and you are able to clean them effectively.