Pocket Reduction Surgery
When you have periodontal disease, the supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming “pockets” around the teeth. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing large spaces for bacteria to live in. As bacteria develop around the teeth, they accumulate and advance further under the gum tissue. These deep pockets collect even more bacteria, resulting in further bone and tissue loss. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will become loose or abscess and need to be extracted.
During the initial examination, Drs. Miller or Bounds will measure the depth of your pocket(s) and recommend pocket reduction surgery if necessary. During this procedure, they will fold back the gum tissue and remove the disease-causing bacteria before securing the tissue into place. In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed and recontoured in order to limit areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This allows the gum tissue to better reattach and helps reduce the pocket depth.
Reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria are important steps to prevent further damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to help you maintain a healthy smile. Eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Deeper pockets are more difficult for you to
clean, so it is often important to reduce them back to a normal range. Reduced pockets and a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care increase your chances of keeping your natural teeth – and decrease the chance of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease.
We invite you to change your life today. Call our care team at 949-857-1053 or click here to schedule online.
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