Bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around yout teeth like a turtleneck. When you have periodontal disease, this supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming “pockets” around the teeth. Over time, pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to thrive and 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 tartardeposits in deep pockets or to reduse the periodontal pocket and make it easier for you to keet 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 rissue fits snugly around the tooth again. This allows the gum tissue to better reattach to healthy bone.