Sometimes the effects of periodontal disease create permanent changes in the tooth and gum structure that will cause issues in the future. Enlarged gum pockets between the tooth and the gum line are common after having advanced gum disease. Sometimes these gaps are cosmetic in nature, and affect the appearance of the gums. More commonly, the gaps put the teeth at future risk for tooth and gum disease, as they are just one more place that plaque and bacteria can collect. Pocket reduction surgery is designed to thwart the after effects of periodontal disease and restore your mouth to a healthy state. 

The goal of periodontal surgery is to gain access to the tooth root and to clean the damaged areas that are too deep to reach with scaling and root planing. Once the dentist can visually see the damage, it can be removed completely. Removing the calculus, disease gum tissue, and jagged bone leaves a pocket between the gum and the tooth. Sometimes these deep areas can be filled with bone graft or other materials to help reduce the pocket. Other times, the gum tissue will be adapted to the level of reduced bone in order to allow for easier access for cleaning. The goal is to create a space large enough so it can be reached through daily oral hygiene, but small enough that it is not a breeding ground for plaque and bacteria.