adovr_d87389c80da99bef8f38776d3f905184 Articles medical and health: How Healing Periodontal Pocket Is Done

How Healing Periodontal Pocket Is Done

By Douglas Hamilton


Treating periodontal disease or pockets can be a hectic process that requires thorough commitment. Usually, there are two major goals in the treatment process. The first goal is controlling and reducing bacterial colonies that are formed beneath the edge of gums. The second goal is eliminating known factors that increase vulnerability of the patient to breakdown. These two goals can be achieved at home if the pockets are still in their early stages. However, in advanced stages, healing periodontal pocket may require professional help.

When the disease is still within its initial stages, it affects the gums a lot although the bones remain without being altered in any way. The depth of the pockets is only slight, going to five millimeters. Because the disease is not very severe at this stage, the pockets may be treated easily through a process called scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing remove plaque and calculus that have formed over time.

Pockets can grow tender over time and that can be noticed by the surgeon during a scaling and root planing operation. Tenderness causes pain and to avoid that, numbing may be necessary. The operation does not cause after it is done. Daily brushing and flossing is necessary if future reoccurrence of this problem is to be avoided due to an accumulation of plaque. Healing gums will snug back over the root after the operation.

Moderate or advanced pockets usually result in loss of some bone tissue. Such pockets are significantly deeper, going up to 7 millimeters in depth. Calculus in such cases cannot be removed using scaling and root planing procedure. This is because scaling and planing is insufficient for reaching the bottom of pockets. Flap surgery becomes the best option in such cases. Thorough cleaning can be performed with the access granted by flap surgery.

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.

One problem with flap surgery is that the gum never reconnects to the tooth after the incision. That way, pockets continue to persist, even though the infection is removed. To avoid future reoccurrence of this problem, the patient has to continuously go for frequent hygienist cleanings to control the infection. Similarly, the periodontist can reposition gums so as to eliminate pockets during the surgery.

There are also cases where the pockets may be too advanced or too deep or where surgery is simply just not an option. Very deep pockets are usually hard to treat fully and there will always be residual pockets left. In such cases, the only applicable solution is to try and minimize the pockets and chances of reoccurrence.

Complete treatment or cure of periodontal disease and pockets is not possible because they are considered to be chronic diseases. Even after treatment, one continues to be vulnerable to reinfection because infection and plaque causes continue to exist. Being vigilant about dental hygiene is the only best solution available.




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