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What Is Involved In Healing Periodontal Pocket

By Douglas Hamilton


Complete and sufficient treatment of periodontal pockets and disease requires commitment from the patient. There are two primary goals involved in the treatment process. Reducing and/or removing the formed bacterial colonies underneath gums is the first goal of treatment. The other primary goal is reducing vulnerability of the patient by eradicating risk factors such as smoking. Both primary goals are achieved from home if the pockets are still in their infancy stages. However, professional intervention is needed in healing periodontal pocket if the disease is already advanced.

The bone is usually unaltered during early stages of the disease, while the gums are affected. Pockets only extend to shallow depths. Usually they reach up to 5 millimeters. At that stage of the disease, deep cleanings also called scaling and root planing is the most appropriate method to use to eliminate pockets and infection. The process eliminates calculus and plaque.

Sometimes pockets may be noticed to be tender when the surgeon is doing scaling and root planing. In such a case, the gums need to be numbed to avoid pain. After the process, there should be no pain felt. To avoid future reoccurrences, it is upon the patient to do thorough brushing and flossing every day so that plaque does not build up again. The gums usually snug back up on the root as they heal.

In cases where pockets are moderate in depth or advanced, there is usually actual loss of bone. Pockets may be a bit deeper, reaching 7 millimeters in depth. Scaling and planing becomes insufficient for total removal of calculus. This is because the bottom of the pockets cannot be accessed with ease. The best method used here is referred to as flap surgery. With this method, the periodontist has enough access to do thorough cleaning.

The space between the tooth and gum is incised during flap surgery. After incising the space, the gum is peeled back at the neck of the tooth. After peeling back the gum, enough space is got for debriding the tooth and removing deep-seated calculus. All tissues that are affected can be returned to position after the surgery. This eliminates chances of cosmetic change.

The inability of the gum to reconnect to the tooth when the incision has been done is one of this problems of flap surgery. That makes pockets to persist even after removing the infection and calculus. Frequent hygienist cleanings are therefore necessary in order to prevent future reoccurrence of this problem. It is also possible to reposition gums in order to remove pockets during surgical procedure.

Surgery is always applicable in all cases and sometimes pockets may have reached a very advanced stage where they are very deep. That makes complete elimination of such pockets impossible. Although such pockets cannot be eliminated completely, they can be minimized and their chances of progressing can be minimized through correct measures.

Periodontal disease and pockets have been considered to be chronic diseases that are incapable of being eliminated completely or cured. Patients continue to be susceptible after treatment while causes of infection and plaque are ever present in the mouth. The best solution is daily vigilance in dental hygiene.




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