[Surgical and non-surgical approach to deep periodontal pockets]

Deepened pockets are a challenge because they offer an anaerobic niche and because of their inaccessibility to personal plaque control measures. Scaling and root planing followed by regular professional plaque removal are effective in arresting the progress of most chronic adult periodontitis. Only when pockets remain inflamed after repeated thorough professional treatment during several months can a surgical pocket elimination technique be used. The results will depend on the type of attachment loss (horizontal vs. irregular) the root anatomy (furcations) and the training level of the operator, general practitioner or periodontologist. There is an increasing trend in the anterior parts of the oral cavity (monoradicular teeth easily accessible for plaque control) to use the Widman technique. Long-term data concerning the stability of this new attachment are lacking. Gingivectomy is less elaborate, does not imply a high-level sterile environment like for mucoperiosteal flap surgery, but leads to phonetic and esthetic side-effects when used in frontal areas. In the distal areas the apically displaced and the shortened repositioned flap techniques are effective in a long-term perspective if regular postoperative monitoring is respected. Discussion remains concerning the stability of a new connective tissue attachment vs. a long epithelial attachment. A recent breakthrough is the so-called Guided Tissue Regeneration where by means of a submucosally membrane the periodontal ligament cells are allowed to regenerate the different periodontal tissue compartments. Preliminary results are very encouraging but need further evaluation.