Which procedure modifies the supporting bone?

• A. Osseous Bone Surgery
• B. Gingivoplasty
• C. Gingivectomy
• D. Ostectomy

Answer: (A)

The question is about which procedure actually changes the bone that supports teeth. In periodontal therapy, soft-tissue procedures like removing or reshaping the gingiva (gingivectomy or gingivoplasty) alter only the gum tissue and do not modify the underlying bone. Modifying the supporting bone means changing the alveolar bone around the teeth to correct defects or contours, which is accomplished by osseous surgery.

Osseous bone surgery is the category that targets the bone itself, reshaping or removing bone to achieve a healthier, more functional bone architecture around the teeth. This can involve osteoplasty (reshaping bone without removing height) or ostectomy (removing bone to reduce excessive bone height or to correct defects). While ostectomy does involve bone removal, it is considered a type of osseous surgery, so the broader description that encompasses altering the supporting bone is osseous bone surgery.

Thus, this option best fits the concept of modifying the bone that supports the teeth, whereas the other procedures affect only the gingival tissue.