The goal of all treatments related to periodontal disease is to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition, but all treatments start with some form of pocket cleaning and reduction. Pockets can form when the gums pull away from the teeth and create gaps. It is in these pockets that food particles collect and bacteria gets established.
This leads to infection and advanced periodontal disease with bone loss. Pocket reduction surgery helps to repair these empty pockets by cleaning out the infection and reattaching the gums to the teeth. If you have been looking for advanced dental care in the area or have questions about pocket reduction surgery, Huynh Periodontics is where you need to be.
Dr. Huynh has years of experience with a range of advanced dental care needs and is ready to help you minimize your risk for periodontal disease by taking care of your teeth and gums with pocket reduction surgery today.
Goals of pocket reduction surgery
Pocket reduction surgery or osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the alveolar bone 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. Despite the word “surgery” the procedure is reported to feel more like a thorough cleaning. 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 this level. - 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. Huynh will make an incision around each tooth of the affected area to release the gum tissue from the bone. This allows access to the bone and roots of the teeth. After the roots have been thoroughly cleaned through scaling, a drill and hand tools will be used to reshape the bone around the teeth. Bone is removed in some areas to restore the normal rise and fall of the bone, but at a lower level. Bone grafting may also be necessary to fill in large defects.
Next, the gums will be placed back over the remaining bone and sutured in place. The site may also be covered with a bandage (periodontal pack) or dressing. Pain medicine and mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine are generally prescribed following the surgery.
