Pocket Reduction Surgery
New Bedford, Falmouth, & Hyannis, MA
 Taking care of your mouth is essential for maintaining your oral health and your beautiful smile. Regular care is essential for the prevention of serious oral health complications such as gum disease. The problem with gum disease is that the earliest stage, called gingivitis, is barely noticeable, and often goes completely undetected until it progresses into more serious stages. At Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we can provide treatments for gum disease, including pocket reduction surgery.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a serious oral health issue that affects not only your gums but your teeth and your jawbone as well. Advanced stages of gum disease can also impact your overall health as well and can lead to issues such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and more. Gum disease is a progressive condition that only gets worse the longer it goes untreated. With gum disease, you may be faced with gum recession, loose teeth, and even tooth loss.
The Formation of Periodontal Pockets
As gum disease progresses, periodontal pockets form. When you have gum disease, bacteria and plaque accumulate on your teeth and irritate your gums. The irritation leads to swelling, which causes the gums to pull away from your teeth. This leads to the formation of pockets. Bacteria fall into these pockets, where they continue to attack your gums. They also begin attacking your periodontal ligaments and your jawbone. The longer you go without treatment, the deeper the pockets become.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
Pocket reduction surgery is a surgical procedure that is designed to help reduce the depths of your periodontal pockets so that your gums can begin to heal. It is a minor surgical procedure that involves small incisions in the gums to expose the teeth and surrounding bone. We are then able to effectively clean all of the surfaces of your teeth. If the damage from gum disease has begun to affect your jawbone, leaving small indentations on the bone, we will perform a procedure to smooth the bone. This prevents spaces for bacteria to hide and allows for proper reattachment of your gums to your bone and teeth. Once your pocket reduction surgery is complete, your gums are sutured closed. An antibacterial solution is administered to help prevent infection during your recovery.
Are There Non-Surgical Alternatives?
In many cases, gum disease can be treated with a procedure known as scaling and root planing. This is a deep cleaning of your teeth that involves cleaning the surfaces of your teeth both above and below the gum line, eliminating all buildup. This is a non-surgical, minimally-invasive procedure. However, if your periodontal pockets are too deep to effectively clean with scaling and root planing, you may then be recommended for pocket reduction surgery.
Benefits of Pocket Reduction Surgery
There are many benefits to pocket reduction surgery, including:
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Slowing and stopping the progression of gum disease.
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Your gum tissue can begin to reattach to your teeth, restoring a healthy gum line.
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The quality of your smile is greatly improved.
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Your oral health can be more easily managed both professionally and at home. |
If advanced stages of gum disease have made restoring your oral health more difficult non-surgically, you may be recommended for pocket reduction surgery. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry at 508-996-3131 today.
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