Pocket Reduction Surgery

Pocket reduction surgery, or osseous surgery is performed when there is a point of no return. What we mean by this is the existence of periodontal disease is so bad it’s caused severe deep pockets that can no longer be cleaned with at-home oral care or non-surgical therapy. Bacteria continues to accumulate and slowly destroys your gum tissue and bone. Pocket reduction surgery is performed to remove these bacterial deposits. It can essentially save your natural teeth and prevent or help control other serious health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes.

This is what you can expect during this procedure...

As with any invasive treatment, your periodontist will first numb you up with local anesthetic around the problem area. He’ll make two incisions on either side of the gums, front and back. These flaps will gently be pulled back from your teeth, using a periosteal elevator, to gain more access to the infected area.

Next, your periodontist will use a curettes and an ultrasonic scaler to remove plaque and calculus from your teeth. This technique is also called scaling and root planing. Bone is often reshaped to help reduce the pocket and aid in smooth adaptation of the flap to the clean and smoothed root.

After the area is treated, the two flaps are sutured together and a periodontal dressing may be added over the treated area to protect it. After about a week your stitches may be removed, unless dissolvable sutures were used.

When periodontal disease has reached the point where pocket reduction surgery is required, it’s imperative you schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience. It will not only save your teeth, it can help save your overall health. 

Do you need to make an appointment for a pocket reduction surgery? Call us at 414-259-0660. You can also reach us by email.