[Scientific basis of periodontal surgery]

Periodontal surgery is (too) often utilized but there seems to exists a lack of evidence to justify its application. Only an indirect evidence justifying periodontal surgery can be offered. In presence of shallow pockets, an individual can himself reach and stay at a high degree of gingival health and maintain a healthy periodontium during many years with practically no loss of attachment. In presence of deep pockets, a subject has very little chance to keep his periodontium healthy. It seems thus necessary to diminish the depth of those periodontal pockets by surgical treatment. With an optimal level of oral hygiene, periodontal disease can be cured and further destruction of the periodontal tissues avoided irrespective of the surgical technique utilized for pocket elimination. However, the most favourable healing is obtained when complete soft tissue coverage of the alveolar bone is ensured.