In a healthy mouth, the teeth are firmly surrounded by gum tissue and securely supported by the bones of the jaw. In contrast, when you have periodontal disease the gum tissue and bone are destroyed by bacteria leaving open spaces around the teeth that we call pockets.

 

The larger and deeper these pockets are, the easier it is for bacteria to collect inside them, ultimately leading to an accumulation of damage over time. Eventually the supportive structure degrades to the point that the tooth either falls out or needs to be extracted. Periodontal surgery is indicated when the bone or pockets around a tooth are advanced enough to require more than scaling and root planing. 

 

Pocket reduction procedures (also known as gum/flap surgery) are performed under local anesthesia. During this procedure, we fold back the gum tissue and remove the bacteria hiding underneath the gums, as well as the hardened plaque and tartar that have collected around your teeth. We also smooth irregular surfaces of damaged bone and soft tissue to eliminate areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This allows the gums to reattach to healthy bone and achieve an optimal healing response following surgery. At the end of the procedure, the gums are secured back to the bone by tiny sutures.

 

 

 

When the bone and soft tissue supporting the teeth has been lost or destroyed due to severe gum disease, we can restore these areas with a bone regeneration procedure. Depending on the extent of tissue destruction, we may perform a bone graft to stimulate new bone growth in conjunction with tissue growth factors to repair the areas in your mouth that have been destroyed by the disease. 

 

Immediately following the surgery your gums may be more sensitive; however, there will be a notable reduction in pocket depth and significant improvement in the condition of your teeth and gums.