Your gums should fit nice and snug around your teeth so there is no room for bacteria to enter, or plaque to accumulate. Periodontal disease is when the tissue and bone are destroyed. This causes pockets to form around your teeth. If you do not address the issue, the pockets can become deeper, and leave space for bacteria to live. The pockets will progressively get worse as the bacteria collects, and eventually you may lose too much bone and the teeth will be lost.
Symptoms you may notice:
- Loose teeth or pain while chewing.
- Swollen or bleeding gums.
- Bad breath.
- Gums that are pulling away or receding from teeth.
To help with periodontal disease and pockets, there is a procedure called pocket reduction. Usually we will recommend this to our patients if regular brushing and flossing at home cannot clean the pockets appropriately.
At Fraser Family we will evaluate your gums and measure the depth of your pockets to determine if you are a good candidate for a pocket reduction procedure.
Pocket Reduction Procedures available:
- Gingival Flap Surgery: The gum tissue is folded back, and we remove the diseased bacteria. We then secure the tissue back into place, and may smooth certain areas to prevent bacteria from entering in the future.
- Gingivectomy: We remove any overgrown tissue, so patients can clean their teeth easier and keep bacteria from collecting.
- Gingivoplasty: This procedure reshapes gum tissue around the teeth. If needed, grafts are used and stitched into place where the gums have receded. Usually the graft is taken from the patient’s roof of the mouth.
Our office will numb your gums to prevent pain and use local anesthesia. Patients may feel mild pain after the procedure, and we will recommend taking over the counter pain medication. You may notice some swelling and this is normal. We recommend treating the swelling with ice. If you notice any persistent pain, or severe swelling please contact our office immediately.
It is important to address periodontal disease if you notice any symptoms, and schedule regular dental appointments in our office. If left untreated, you can lose your healthy teeth. We recommend to keep up with a good at home oral hygiene routine to help maintain your gum health, and keep bacteria out. Keeping your teeth and gums clean will prevent periodontal disease. Even with good oral hygiene, there is a chance that periodontal disease can reoccur.
Call or email Fraser Family today to set up your appointment and learn more about our pocket reduction procedures.