Dehiscence

Dehiscence refers to the partial or complete opening of a surgical wound before it has fully healed. In implant surgery, this typically means the gum sutures open, exposing the underlying implant, graft material, or membrane.

Causes

• Tension in the wound closure (the flap was closed under too much stretch)
• Trauma to the area (touching, eating hard food too soon)
• Infection
• Smoking — significantly impairs wound healing and increases dehiscence risk
• Patient health factors such as poorly controlled diabetes

What to do

If you notice your wound opening in the days after surgery, contact us promptly. Minor dehiscence often heals without intervention if kept clean. More significant opening may require review and possibly additional measures to protect graft material.

Prevention

Following your post-operative instructions carefully — particularly avoiding hard foods, not touching the wound, and not smoking — significantly reduces the risk of dehiscence.