Pocket Reduction Therapy

The word “periodontal” literally means around the tooth. Periodontal disease, also known as “gum disease,” is a chronic bacterial infection that damages the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss. 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 slowly destroyed, forming “pockets” around the teeth.

People who are susceptible to gum disease have a reduced immunological response to specific types of aggressive bacteria that can naturally live in their mouth. When these bacteria are not controlled, they can stimulate cellular changes that ultimately destroy the supporting bone that anchors your teeth in your mouth. This process of breakdown in your periodontal tissue occurs as the bacteria in your mouth produce toxins, that in turn stimulate an inflammatory response by your immune system as it meets the challenge of the invading forces. Over time, this inflammatory reaction contributes to the loss of the seal of the gum tissue to the side of the tooth and bone. As this progresses, the supporting bone that holds your teeth in place begins to dissolve and the teeth slowly, but predictably lose their foundation of support.

If pocket reduction therapy has been recommended in your case, your Periodontist has measured the depth of your pockets, and determined that you can no longer safely maintain your teeth without this surgical intervention. The primary purpose of periodontal surgery is to attempt to reduce the pocket to a depth that is accessable for daily control of the bacteria that live in the region. It should be kept in mind that a pocket that is too deep for daily maintenance of the bacteria that live in it, is similar to a natural incubator where the pocket acts as a warm, moist, well protected home where the bacteria are well-fed and are living happily at your expense!

During a pocket reduction procedure, the surgeon folds back the gum tissue, removes the disease-causing bacteria, repairs damage that has occurred to the soft tissue and bone; before securing the tissue back into place with sutures. This process reduces the pocketing and allows the gum tissue to better reattach to healthy bone. If bone grafting has been recommended in your case, read the following section for more information about how bone stimulation can be used during periodontal surgery to regenerate regions of bone that have been lost over the years.

Another important fact to consider is that research has linked periodontal infection to more serious problems, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and pre-term or low-birth-weight babies. As ongoing research continues to define how periodontal disease is linked to these and other health problems, good oral health is essential. As you can see, good periodontal health is a key component of a health body!

Many factors, such as oral hygiene habits, genetics, stress, general health conditions, medications, and tobacco use may have contributed to your disease and can influence treatment effectiveness and disease recurrence. Drs. Caldwell and Dimmitt are the dental professionals who specialize in treating the varity of periodontal diseases. Your Referring Dentist and Periodontist will recommend a tailored treatment plan to repair the damage, restore health, and improve the function and/or esthetics of your smile.

A healthy smile brings a lifetime of benefits. You can keep dental costs down by preventing future problems. In health, you smile, speak and eat with comfort and confidence.