Surgery on gum and bone can reduce pocket depth and save a tooth or teeth. It allows the periodontist to remove tartar deep below the gumline. In some cases, pocket reduction surgery is combined with regenerative procedures.
In most cases, the damage will not be completely reversible, but if you follow the treatment and prevention plan laid out by your dentist, you should be able to see significant improvement. Most people are able to reclaim a 4mm to 5mm pocket depth with proper treatment and ongoing periodontal maintenance.
What Is Pocket Reduction? Pocket reduction is a surgical procedure to remove harmful bacteria trapped in the space between gums and teeth. While scaling and root planing can help treat mild cases of gum disease, pocket reduction surgery is often necessary when the oral infection has reached an advanced stage.
Because damage to your gum tissue is irreversible, if your pocket depths start to increase the damage will be done. The goal is to stop periodontitis as soon as possible.
Scaling and root planing helps to shrink periodontal pockets and can heal gum tissue. This treatment prevents further infection, and keeps your teeth and gums looking and feeling great. After scaling and root planing most patients notice their gums recede less, and they are restored.
It was concluded that substantial reduction in pocket depth occurs within 3 weeks after a single episode of root planing owing to initial gingival recession and secondary gain in clinical attachment.
Salt has healing properties that can treat and heal inflamed or swollen gums caused by gum disease. Even though salt water is extremely effective in helping to treat gum disease, salt water cannot cure gum disease.
For deep pockets, home treatments likely won't be enough to resolve the issue. Sometimes, a scaling and root planing procedure is all you need to get your gum health back on track. This procedure involves a standard cleaning to remove plaque and tartar.
Ongoing gum irritation and swelling, called inflammation, can cause periodontitis. Eventually this causes deep pockets to form between your gums and teeth. These pockets fill with plaque, tartar and bacteria and become deeper over time.
In a healthy mouth, the pocket depth is usually between 1 and 3 millimeters (mm).
In some cases, it may be too late for gum grafting to save the gums. If your gums are severely damaged, receding so far back that they expose the tooth's root, or if there is significant bone loss from advanced gum disease, gum grafting may not be able to restore them to their healthy state.
A healthy pocket is within 2-3mm. More than 3 mm is a sign of periodontal disease and more than 5mm would require deep cleaning/root planning.
Moderate periodontitis
Gum pocket depth is between 5mm and 6mm, and, in addition to the above symptoms, the bone loss is more extensive. Many patients also have a bad taste in the mouth and/or bad breath at this point.
Mouthwash can be a helpful tool in the treatment of periodontal disease. Mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup. Mouthwashes that contain these ingredients should be used twice a day for best results.
A saltwater rinse can be performed three to four times a week, but it is important that you don't go beyond this because salt contains sodium, and too much sodium can impact your tooth enamel negatively.
Preventing Periodontal Pocket Development
Maintain a good oral healthcare routine at home. Brush, floss, and use mouthwash every day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Brush gently along the gumline to clean without irritating the gum tissues.
Outcomes of Periodontal Wound Healing5
Regeneration: It is biological process by which the function and architecture of lost tissues restored completely by formation of new cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Repair: It is healing of tissues in which the lost tissues are not completely restored.
With gum disease, you won't keep your teeth for long. In fact, unlike tooth decay which impacts your smile one tooth at a time, periodontitis can cause you to lose multiple, if not all, teeth at once. Gum disease starts small as a mild form called gingivitis.
In a case of periodontitis, pockets allow infection to spread, resulting in bone loss underneath the gums. These are the kind of “deep pockets” that no one wants, so it's important to diagnose and treat them before they threaten the integrity of the structures that support the teeth — or even cause tooth loss.
Yes. Regardless of the stage of infection, you can stop the progression of gum disease. The initial phase is the easiest to manage as it only requires maintaining proper oral care and dental checkups. Further stages will require specialized treatment such as scaling and root planing.