Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth
like a turtleneck. When you have periodontal disease, this
supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming "pockets"
around the teeth. Over time, these pockets become deeper,
providing a larger space for bacteria to thrive and wreak havoc.
As bacteria accumulate and advance under the gum tissue in these
deep pockets, additional bone and tissue loss follows.
Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will need to be
extracted. Flap surgery is sometimes performed to remove tartar
deposits in deep pockets or to reduce the periodontal pocket and
make it easier for you or your dental professional to keep the
area clean. This common surgery involves lifting back the gums
and removing the tartar. The gums are then sutured back in place
so that the tissue fits snugly around the tooth again. A pocket
reduction procedure is recommended if daily at-home oral hygiene
and a professional care routine cannot effectively reach these
deep pockets. In some case