Periodontal Pocket Reduction

When you have periodontal disease, the gum tissue and the bone are destroyed, forming “pockets” around the teeth. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to live. As bacteria develop around the teeth, they can accumulate and advance under the gum tissue. These deep pockets collect even more bacteria, resulting in further bone and tissue loss. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will need to be extracted.

During this procedure, Dr. Kilby gently folds back the gum tissue and removes the disease-causing bacteria before securing the tissue into place. In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothened to limit areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This allows the gum tissue to better re-attach to healthy bone.