Periodontal Pocket Surgery

The bone and gum tissue in your mouth should fit snugly around your teeth. If periodontal disease is present, this gum and tissue is destroyed, causing pockets to form around the teeth. Periodontal pocket surgery, also known as pocket reduction surgery or osseous surgery, reduces the depth of these pockets to save the teeth. Dr. Hayden Fuller is our skilled periodontist at Oral Surgery Specialists of Oklahoma who performs periodontal pocket surgery at our office in Oklahoma City, OK. If you have periodontal disease or require pocket reduction treatment, contact us today to set up an appointment.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, occurs as a result of infection and inflammation of the bone and gums surrounding the teeth. It is caused by bacteria buildup in the mouth, often a result of poor oral hygiene. The early stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis, which causes gums to appear swollen and red, and they may bleed easily. When gingivitis progresses into periodontitis, the gums can recede from the tooth, forming pockets that can possibly lead to tooth loss.

These pockets grow deeper over time, providing more space for bacteria to live. Bacteria can accumulate under the gum tissue in deep pockets that collect even more bacteria. This can cause bone and tissue loss and if too much bone is lost, teeth will need to be extracted.

Pocket Reduction/Periodontal Pocket Surgery

Before Treatment

Prior to treatment, you will visit our office for a consultation and meet with Dr. Fuller, who will examine your teeth and oral health. Pocket reduction is an effective way of treating these spaces caused by gum disease and is necessary when the pockets are too deep to clean by yourself at home. Local anesthesia is most often used for this procedure, but we offer a variety of anesthesia and sedation options for your comfort.

What to Expect During Surgery

During surgery, Dr. Fuller will make an incision along the gum line to create and open a gingival flap. Gum flap surgery is an effective way of treating gum disease because it provides easy access to the affected tooth root. Dr. Fuller will remove plaque and calculus from the roots and contour any damaged bone. If significant bone loss has occurred, she will place an osseous graft to regenerate lost bone and apply growth proteins to regenerate lost tissue. These types of guided regeneration methods are beneficial in restoring oral structures that have been damaged by bacteria.

Once treatment is complete, the gingival flap will then be sutured back into place. Pocket reduction surgery takes about 2 hours to complete in total.

After Surgery

If only local anesthesia was used, you will be able to drive yourself home following surgery. You may resume light activity after 24 hours. It will take several days for the incision to heal. We will provide you with instructions to follow after your procedure that will include steps on keeping your surgical site clean, what to avoid, and how to maintain good oral health.