Periodontal pocket is a term used in dental medicine to refer to the presence of a depth of an abnormal size of the gingival sulcus. The depth occurs near the contact point between the tooth and gingival tissue. People with periodontitis are also likely to experience these pockets although it is not obvious. Healing periodontal pocket can be a stressful process and there might never be full recovery.
The occurrence of pockets in the mouth results from many different causes. However, one of the major one is when there is a break down in the gums that cause them to be separated from teeth. The pockets usually get filled with harmful bacteria that occur in the mouth. Once the bacteria are inside that space, they multiply rapidly and lead to the opening deepening even more.
Pockets usually form around the teeth and get deeper over time when not controlled. Severe damage is done by bacteria to bone and tissue. One starts to feel pain when the damage has reached severe levels. Teeth removal may be the only solution eventually. One can lose all their teeth in the mouth if they fail to get the problem under control.
Treatment for periodontal pockets depends on how worse the situation is. During early stages, usually the gum alone is infected by bacteria, but the bone is intact. Such pockets measure between 4 to 5 millimeters in depth. Scaling and root planning can be used to eliminate any calculus that may be formed. In cases where the pockets are tender, the gums may need to be numbed to avoid pain during the process.
Pain should not be experienced after the process. Lack of proper oral hygiene leads to formation of plaque again. Daily brushing and flossing is recommended for better and faster results. Gums shrink back to the teeth and health is restored within a couple of month.
In few cases, gums fail to shrink back into the correct position because they are swollen. That may require the swollen gums to be trimmed back by a dentist. This process is done using a tool called a gingivectomy. Failure to trim the swollen gums creates space for plaque to start accumulating again and soon or later the pockets recur.
Damaged bone may have irregular surfaces that need to be smoothened so that gum tissue reattaches easily to healthy bone. In moderate cases, pockets measure between 5-7 millimeters and scaling and root planning is ineffective. Therefore, flap surgery is used.
Flap surgery creates space and an opening through which access can be gained to the depth for cleaning the deposit. Once the surgery is done, gum tissue never reconnects to the tooth easily. This leaves a gap that makes the only way to prevent a repetition of the problem making regular visits to a hygienist to keep cleaning the plaque out. Recovery in cases where the pockets are in an advanced stage is hard and usually the tooth may have to be removed.
The occurrence of pockets in the mouth results from many different causes. However, one of the major one is when there is a break down in the gums that cause them to be separated from teeth. The pockets usually get filled with harmful bacteria that occur in the mouth. Once the bacteria are inside that space, they multiply rapidly and lead to the opening deepening even more.
Pockets usually form around the teeth and get deeper over time when not controlled. Severe damage is done by bacteria to bone and tissue. One starts to feel pain when the damage has reached severe levels. Teeth removal may be the only solution eventually. One can lose all their teeth in the mouth if they fail to get the problem under control.
Treatment for periodontal pockets depends on how worse the situation is. During early stages, usually the gum alone is infected by bacteria, but the bone is intact. Such pockets measure between 4 to 5 millimeters in depth. Scaling and root planning can be used to eliminate any calculus that may be formed. In cases where the pockets are tender, the gums may need to be numbed to avoid pain during the process.
Pain should not be experienced after the process. Lack of proper oral hygiene leads to formation of plaque again. Daily brushing and flossing is recommended for better and faster results. Gums shrink back to the teeth and health is restored within a couple of month.
In few cases, gums fail to shrink back into the correct position because they are swollen. That may require the swollen gums to be trimmed back by a dentist. This process is done using a tool called a gingivectomy. Failure to trim the swollen gums creates space for plaque to start accumulating again and soon or later the pockets recur.
Damaged bone may have irregular surfaces that need to be smoothened so that gum tissue reattaches easily to healthy bone. In moderate cases, pockets measure between 5-7 millimeters and scaling and root planning is ineffective. Therefore, flap surgery is used.
Flap surgery creates space and an opening through which access can be gained to the depth for cleaning the deposit. Once the surgery is done, gum tissue never reconnects to the tooth easily. This leaves a gap that makes the only way to prevent a repetition of the problem making regular visits to a hygienist to keep cleaning the plaque out. Recovery in cases where the pockets are in an advanced stage is hard and usually the tooth may have to be removed.
