When do you expect to see the most bleeding during periodontal surgery?

The most bleeding during periodontal surgery is typically expected during the initial incisions and flap reflection. This phase involves making incisions through the tissue, which disrupts the blood vessels in the area and can lead to significant bleeding. This is because the tissue is vascularized, and cutting through it immediately exposes these vessels, creating the potential for bleeding to occur as the surgeon maneuvers the tissue.

During suturing, although some bleeding can occur, it generally should be controlled and minimized since the tissues are being approximated and closed. At the end of the procedure, while it is important to ensure hemostasis, the majority of bleeding would have been addressed during the initial phases of the surgery. A few days after surgery, bleeding should typically not occur unless there is a complication or underlying issue with healing. Therefore, the initial incisions and flap reflection is the point at which the most bleeding is likely to occur.