I haven't had the surgery but I've been curious about periodontal disease lately... using it as motivation to keep my stuff together:
Quote:
Why do I need periodontal surgery?
To clean and reduce periodontal pockets. Some gum pockets are too deep for you to clean with daily home oral care and for your dentist to clean during professional care visits. Surgery is thus necessary to remove plaque and calculus below the gum line. The pockets & position of the gums are reduced to minimize areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. During this procedure, the gum tissue is folded away from the tooth and disease-causing bacteria removed from the root surface by scaling and root planning with hand and ultrasonic instruments, before securing the tissue into place with stitches. This type of surgery is known as open flap debridement/ pocket reduction surgery.
To reshape damaged bone. In some instances where bone loss has occurred around teeth, aside from gaining access to clean the root surfaces of affected teeth, surgery might be done to smoothen the uneven or irregular surface of the damaged bone. This allows the gum tissue to be repositioned, promoting healing of the gum pocket. This type of surgery is known as osseous surgery.
To regenerate or “regrow” tissue. If the disease is left untreated, damage to gum and bone attachment to the teeth will continue. Plaque accumulates along the roots of the teeth and this results in infection that can cause more serious damage to the bone supporting the teeth. Some surgical procedures may be recommended to regenerate part of the bone and supporting tissues previously lost to the disease. These techniques (use of membranes and bone grafts) aim to partially restore and strengthen the support of the teeth so they can function longer. This type of surgery is known as guided tissue regeneration/ bone graft surgery.
Will it hurt?
Your periodontist will use a local anaesthetic to numb the surgical area. During the procedure, you should feel little or no discomfort. Following surgery, the treated area may be slightly tender, sore or swollen. You may be prescribed analgesics (painkillers) to relieve post-surgical discomfort; antibiotics to prevent infection and an antibacterial rinse to keep the surgical site clean. If you take your medicine as directed and follow your periodontist’s instructions, you will most likely experience minimal discomfort following surgery. Most patients resume their normal routines the day after surgery.
Will I be able to speak and eat normally after surgery?
You should be able to speak normally after the local anaesthetic has worn off. It is important to eat a well-balanced diet after surgery. Avoid chewing hard foods in the surgical area for several days. Following some types of periodontal surgery, the teeth may be more sensitive to hot and cold. The sensitivity will lessen during the first few weeks after surgery.
Will I need to have surgery again?
In most cases, you will not need surgery in the same area again. However, in certain cases, retreatment or additional surgery may be needed. Proper oral hygiene procedures at home and regular professional care are key factors in achieving a successful long-term result.
What can I do to help control the disease?
Periodontal disease can and will recur if you do not follow a strict program of supportive therapy. You play a major role in preventing further outbreaks of disease. In addition to keeping to regular professional check-ups and cleanings with your dentist, your home oral care routine is important. Daily removal of plaque by proper brushing, flossing and other recommended cleaning methods will help ensure you keep your teeth for a lifetime.
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The pocket is between her tooth and gums so they will be accessing the tooth/root surface via that pocket with a tool:
What I don't get is, if she's only 25 her parents were responsible for her oral care until she was 18, then through college if that applied... or is there a sad story related to that?
This is a pamphlet from the American Dental Association about root scaling and planing:
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pu...patient_23.pdf 
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