Many people know that periodontal disease can result in infections in the gums and even in the bone. Yet, there is a lot of misinformation out there about how periodontists can help stop the progression of these infections. Some patients with gum disease expect their dentist to merely give them an antibiotic to restore them to good oral health. Sadly, in many conditions, more serious steps need to be taken to reverse the damage to the gums and bone caused by periodontal disease, as well as to prevent further infections from occurring. One of these procedures is referred to as pocket reduction surgery.
Your gum tissue should fit tightly around your tooth, forming a tight seal preventing bacteria and food particles gathering underneath the teeth. When the patient has developed gum disease, pockets can form, allowing bacteria, food debris and other foreign particles to build up under the gumline. This process causes tissue degeneration, bone loss as well as tooth loss, when not treated. Periodontists have to perform pocket reduction surgery to restore the health of gum tissue and prevent further damage from occurring.
Pocket reduction surgery is an outpatient dental procedure which is performed in multiple steps. First, he or she will gently create a flap in the gums to remove any bacteria or debris that may have gathered in the pockets. The periodontist will then remove areas of damaged or irregular bone that serves as a breeding ground for bacteria. A root scaling and planing may also be needed to remove tartar and plaque from the root of the tooth. Lastly, teeth will be rinsed with an anti-microbial liquid to eliminate the presence of any remaining bacteria.
After pocket reduction surgery, the periodontist provide patients with after care instructions as well as pain medicine, if needed. The dentist will monitor the patient's condition carefully to make sure that the gum tissue is healing well and that no further signs of infection have developed.
Once the gums have fully healed, the dentist will instruct the patient on their oral care to help them develop better oral care habits and to reduce the chance of reoccurrence of periodontal disease. After the procedure, the patient may need to return for routine dental visits as often as every six months for routine examinations and cleanings.
Author Resource:
Dr. Ariz, Northridge dentist , offers various treatments to improve patients' oral health. He also offers pocket reduction surgery for patients suffering from gum disease.
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