Flap Surgery

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.

Our Locations

Chula Vista Pediatric

397 E St Ste. A
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: 619-425-9930

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Otay Lakes Pediatric

2452 Fenton St #104
Chula Vista, CA 91914
Phone: 619-271-7778

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San Marcos Pediatric

555 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd #101
San Marcos, CA 92078
Phone: 760-510-6750

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Great Dental Group

1310 3rd Ave
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Phone: 619-420-2600

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Poway Pediatrics and Orthodontics

12416 Oak Knoll Rd,
Poway, CA 92064
Phone: 858-486-8400

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Great Dental Group San Marcos

555 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd #202
San Marcos, CA 92078
Phone: 760-510-6750

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