Daryl E. Malena DDS  Periodontics
10838 Old Mill Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68154
402 330 4100

Pocket reduction surgery is usually combined with other procedures such as bone grafts, and it is not uncommon to require two or even more distinctly different procedures for each tooth that we work on.  This doesn't bother periodontists.  This mixing of procedures for different sides of each tooth has been common for at least twenty years.  Your insurance carrier might have difficulty with finding a way to represent such surgery with the classifications they use.  That is why not all procedures used at in a particular surgery appear on your claim for benefits. We do the best we can to work with their limitations. 

Typically pocket reduction surgery consists of an incision made in the gingiva very near the tooth (often too close for the patient to see it).  The gingiva is raised far enough to clean and root plane the tooth and modify the shape of the bone as needed.  Bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration barriers or skin grafts are placed if necessary and the tissue is sutured back tightly against the tooth and bone. 

This probably doesn't sound pleasant, but most of our patients only use over-the-counter ibuprofen for pain control.  We do these procedures as miniaturized and gently as possible.  We also use absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed and we often place a very soft and smooth silicone dressing over the area. We take care to only treat one side of the mouth at any one appointment, leaving you some place to eat whatever you want. 

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