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POCKET REDUCTION
SURGERY
Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly
around your teeth like a turtleneck around your neck. When you have
periodontal disease, this supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming
"pockets" around the teeth.
Over time, these pockets become deeper,
providing a larger space for bacteria to live. As bacteria develop around
the teeth, they can accumulate and advance 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 need to
be extracted.
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periodontitis |
advanced
periodontitis |
Generally pocket reduction surgery is
recommended to reduce pockets that are pockets that are too deep to clean
with daily at-home oral hygiene and a professional care routine.
During this procedure, the gum tissue is
gently moved away from your teeth and the disease-causing bacteria
are removed and cleaned before securing the tissue into place with small
micro-sutures. In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are
smoothed to limit areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This
allows the gum tissue to better reattach to healthy bone.
What are the benefits of
this procedure?
Reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria are important to
prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to
maintain a healthy smile. Eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient
to prevent disease recurrence. Deeper pockets are more difficult for you
and your dental care professional to clean, so it's important for you to
reduce them. Reduced pockets and a combination of daily oral hygiene and
professional maintenance care increases your chances of keeping your
natural teeth – and decreases the chance of serious health problems
associated with periodontal disease.
Regenerative
Procedures
These procedures can reverse some of the damage by regenerating lost bone
and tissue.
During this procedure, your periodontist
folds back the gum tissue and removes the disease-causing bacteria.
Membranes (filters), bone grafts or tissue- stimulating proteins can be
used to encourage your body's natural ability to regenerate bone and
tissue.
There are many options to enhance support
for your teeth and to restore your bone to a healthy level. Your
periodontist will discuss your best options with you.
What are the benefits of
this procedure?
Eliminating existing bacteria and regenerating bone and tissue helps to
reduce pocket depth and repair damage caused by the progression of
periodontal disease. With a combination of daily oral hygiene and
professional maintenance care, you'll increase the chances of keeping your
natural teeth – and decrease the chances of serious health problems
associated with periodontal disease.
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