Pocket Reduction at Newhouse Periodontics
At Newhouse Periodontics, we offer pocket reduction services to save teeth. Periodontal disease can be uncomfortable and painful, but we’ll treat you like family, provide the best, gentlest care to save teeth and restore the confidence in your smile!
What is a Periodontal Pocket?
If you have periodontal disease, then you probably have periodontal pockets. Periodontal disease affects the gums, leaving them swollen, red, bleeding, and uncomfortable. Periodontal pockets are spaces that occur between teeth and the overlaying gums when the gums are infected. These spaces quickly develop when plaque (bacteria) is left at the gumline. As the spaces become bigger and deeper, the bacteria move further into the spaces (pockets) causing a deeper infection that can affect both the soft and bony attachments to the teeth.
A normal space in health between a tooth and the gums is roughly 1-3mm, while 4-10mm can indicate gingivitis to advanced periodontal disease and pockets. Though periodontal pockets can lead to destroyed bone tissue, loose teeth, and tooth loss, they are treatable! When appropriate, Newhouse Periodontics offers pocket reduction surgery to restore your gums and provide shallower, healthier spaces between gums and teeth.
What is Pocket Reduction?
Pocket reduction is the process of decreasing the depth of the pockets around and between teeth to reduce the spaces between the teeth and gumline. A pocket reduction procedure can create a healthier environment, making oral hygiene procedures (brushing and flossing/interdental cleaning) more effective in controlling the infection, producing a noticeable difference in your smile and the health of your gums.
Pocket Reduction Treatments & Procedures at Newhouse Periodontics
Dr. Newhouse, a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, is an internationally recognized leader in periodontology with decades of experience improving smiles and saving teeth through dental services, conservative periodontal treatments, and surgeries including pocket reduction surgery when deemed appropriate. Pocket reduction surgery can improve gum health and protect the tooth and bone structure. Depending on your unique case, adjunctive treatments like bone regeneration or regenerative root coverage may be added to enhance the outcomes of pocket reduction surgery.
When performing your pocket reduction procedure, Dr. Newhouse will remove infected tissue around teeth and clean the root surfaces to remove bacterial plaque and calculus. In some cases, smoothing of the root and reshaping of the bone and gums around the teeth is needed to create shallower pockets. If necessary, Dr. Newhouse can also perform bone rebuilding (regeneration), root coverage, functional crown lengthening, and frenectomies.
What to Expect
At Newhouse Periodontics, our approach to pocket reduction is personalized, patient-centered, and focuses on comfort, precision, and long-term health. Dr. Newhouse employs advanced techniques and technologies to ensure each procedure is as effective and pain-free as possible.
- Comprehensive Assessment: Before any treatment, Dr. Newhouse initially evaluates your periodontal health using advanced imaging and diagnostic tools to understand the extent of the problem and plan the best approach to solve it.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: Each patient receives a personalized treatment plan tailored to a patient’s specific needs and concerns. If pocket reduction is prescribed as part of the treatment plan, the plan would include presurgical preparation, the surgical procedure, and post-operative care.
- Minimally Invasive Techniques: When possible, Dr. Newhouse uses minimally invasive techniques to minimize discomfort, and reduce recovery time.
- Post-operative Care and Follow-up: Dr. Newhouse and her staff provide detailed post-operative instructions and follow-up care to ensure uneventful healing after surgery. Such ongoing care is essential to achieving the best results for obtaining and maintaining oral health.
FAQs
Q: How long does a pocket reduction procedure last?
A: You can expect your pocket reduction procedure to last about 1-2 hours from start to finish, depending on the number of teeth that need to be treated. Dr. Newhouse is expertly skilled in pocket reduction surgery and works diligently to minimize your post-operative discomfort and get you back to your daily routine.
Q: How long is recovery?
A: Recovery depends on how many teeth were treated with pocket reduction surgery, as well as how well post-operative instructions are followed. Recovery can take a few weeks, but discomfort like soreness or swelling should reside after a couple of days. Dr. Newhouse does everything to make recovery as easy as possible by providing patients with post-op instructions and medications as needed.
Q: How should I care for my teeth following pocket reduction surgery?
A: You will need to follow the post-operative instructions given. You must avoid bothering incision areas and sutures (stitches) and avoid brushing in the treatment area until Dr. Newhouse gives you the “green light” to brush and clean between teeth as usual.
Why Choose Newhouse Periodontics for Pocket Reduction Surgery?
When it comes to your smile and oral health, trust Newhouse Periodontics for professional, personalized, and appropriate care. From Dr. Newhouse’s extensive training and experience, our team of skilled and knowledgeable dental professionals, and state-of-the-art technology, you are in great hands here at Newhouse Periodontics. Safety and comfort are of the utmost importance and we offer personalized care to meet the needs of every patient.
Schedule Your Appointment with Newhouse Periodontics Today
Are your gums swollen, sore, or bleeding? Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity and pain near the gumline? Are you missing teeth? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, book online or call 816-373-6800 today to schedule your appointment. Our staff is here to answer questions and guide you through the pocket reduction process. In addition to pocket reduction, we offer many other services including the following:
- Dental Implants
- Bone regeneration
- Tooth Replacement
- LANAP®
- Oral Surgery
- Root coverage
- & so much more!
We look forward to instilling confidence in your oral health and smile!
