Periodontal

Periodontal

Dredging periodontal pockets

What is periodontal pocket curettage?

If periodontal disease is not treated for a long time, it will lead to the formation of periodontal pockets. A periodontal pocket is a hollow pocket that occurs between the tooth and the gum line. Over time, plaque accumulates and thickens in the gum gap, making the periodontal pocket bigger and bigger. As a result, the gums gradually slip away from the roots, and the surrounding tooth structure is deeply damaged. In such circumstances, surgical curettage of the periodontal pocket is necessary to prevent these consequences from occurring.

 

Periodontal pocket curettage (also called periodontal scraping/gum pocket removal) is a minor surgical procedure; In it, the dentist will use a pocket scraper to clean the area between the gum and the root of the tooth. In this way, you will be cleaned from the pus that leads to dental infections.

When to cure periodontal pocket?

Periodontal pocket curettage surgery is indicated for cases of chronic periodontitis, the appearance of mucus in the gums. First, the dentist will take the periodontal and remove the plaque on the teeth. After that, the patient will be scraped the area between the teeth and gums to completely remove the periodontal pocket.

The process of curettage of periodontal pockets

Treatment time lasts from 10-30 minutes depending on the severity of periodontitis. If the periodontal pocket is small, you will only need to cure it once. In case the periodontal pocket grows large, the curettage will have to be divided into several times. For those who have a periodontal pocket larger than 5mm, severe bone loss, or inflammation of the subosteal pocket, you will need to be treated by a periodontist.

  • First, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to reduce patient discomfort before proceeding with the curettage.
  • Next, the dentist will measure the periodontal pocket and perform surgery to reduce the depth of the pocket – preventing food from getting stuck between the gum and the root.
  • In the cleaning step, the dentist will separate the gum from the bone, removing damaged tissue before suturing the wound. If the alveolar margin is too rough, the dentist will correct it to prevent bacteria from accumulating on healthy bone tissue.

Once done, your dentist will teach you how to stop the bleeding and use an anti-inflammatory gel to speed up the healing process. If after a period of treatment, periodontitis does not improve, you will need to see a periodontist for timely examination and treatment.

Notes after periodontal treatment

Once the anesthetic wears off, you will feel some soreness in the treated gum area. To reduce discomfort, you should take medicine as prescribed by your dentist. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen may also be used if needed.

After periodontal curettage, your teeth will become quite sensitive. For the first few days, avoid brushing and flossing. Instead, you can rinse your mouth with physiological saline, or brush your teeth gently. Depending on the case, the dentist may require the use of an antibacterial mouthwash to speed up the healing process.

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