Pocket Reduction Surgery

What is pocket reduction surgery?

Osseous surgery refers to a number of different surgical techniques aimed at:

• gaining access to the tooth roots to remove tartar and disease-causing bacteria
• restoring the normal “architecture” of the bone around the teeth.

What are the goals of pocket reduction surgery?

Pocket Reduction Surgery is used to access affected root surfaces for thorough cleaning and to reshape bone deformities surrounding the teeth. It is a common necessity in effective treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases. The ultimate goal of osseous surgery is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal disease, thereby facilitating future cleaning of the areas between the tooth and gums.  The specific goals of surgery include:

Reducing Bacterial Spread:

Bacteria from the mouth can spread throughout the body and cause other life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and respiratory disease. Removing deep tartar and thereby bacteria can help reduce the risk of bacteria spreading.

Preventing Bone Loss:

The immune system’s inflammatory response prompted by periodontal bacteria can lead to bone loss in the jaw region, and cause teeth to fall out. Osseous surgery seeks to stop periodontal disease before it progresses to a non-treatable condition.

Enhancing the Smile:

Mouths plagued with periodontal disease are often unsightly. Brown gums, rotting teeth, and ridge indentations can leave a person feeling depressed and too self-conscious to smile. Fortunately, osseous surgery can help reduce bacteria and disease and thereby restore your mouth to its former radiance, while restoring confidence at the same time.

Facilitating Home Care:

As the gum pocket deepens, it can become nearly impossible to brush and floss adequately. Osseous surgery reduces pocket size, making it easier to brush and floss, and thereby prevent further periodontal disease.

What does the procedure entail?

A local anesthetic will be used to numb the area prior to surgery. First, Dr. Sobhani will carefully and gently surgically release the gum tissue’s attachment to the neck of the involved tooth (teeth). This allows access to the bone and roots of the teeth. After the roots have been thoroughly cleaned through scaling and root planing, the bone around the teeth will be evaluated and, if necessary reshaped to a healthier “architecture”, that is, approximating the normal rise and fall (scalloping) of the bone. Bone grafting may also be indicated to fill in contained defects.

Following thorough washing of the surgical site, the gums are gently replaced and secured around the involved teeth, usually with dissolving sutures. The site may covered with a bandage (periodontal pack) or dressing. Pain medicine, antibiotics and mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine are generally prescribed following the surgery.

You will be given postoperative instructions regarding what to expect, oral hygiene instructions , as well as diet suggestions. Several follow up visits may be necessary and you must comply with our suggested periodontal maintenance program, especially during the initial phases of healing to avoid post-operative infection.