Flap Surgery
Online Dental Education Library
Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.
Root Canal Procedure – Molar |
Root Canal With A Crown |
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Cast Post and Core with Crown |
Crown - Prep of Damaged Tooth |
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Progression of Tooth Decay |
Veneers |
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Whitening with Trays |
Bone Grafting - Socket Preservation |
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Effects of Single Tooth Loss |
Implant Placement into Socket |
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Implant vs. Bridge |
Single Implant - Upper Posterior |
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Sinus Lift - Lateral |
Sinus Lift - Vertical |
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Three Unit Bridge |
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Impacted 3rd Molar - Infected |
Normal TMJ Function |
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Cleaning Braces with Floss |
Crown Lengthening - Overview |
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Horizontal Bone Loss |
Periodontal Disease |
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Pocket Reduction Procedure |
Root Coverage Graft |
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Scaling Calculus |
Vertical Bone Loss |
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Brushing with Electric Tooth Brush |
Brushing Your Teeth |
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Cleaning a Bridge |
Cleaning a Bridge - Implant Supported |
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Dental Sealants (No Drill) |
Flossing Techniques |
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Fluoride Treatment |
Night Guard |
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Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck. When you have periodontal disease, this supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, forming "pockets" around the teeth. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to thrive and wreak havoc.
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 tartar deposits in deep pockets or to reduce the periodontal pocket and make it easier for you or your dental professional to keep 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 tissue fits snugly around the tooth again.
A pocket reduction procedure is recommended if daily at-home oral hygiene and a professional care routine cannot effectively reach these deep pockets.
In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed to limit areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This allows the gum tissue to better reattach to healthy bone.
