Periodontal flap surgery is the surgical removal of deep periodontal pockets. This procedure allows for effective and thorough removal of plaque and tartar (hard deposits) that are present on the root surface in deeper and hard-to-reach areas. Surgery is needed when pockets remain after a deep cleaning or we may utilize a surgical method when we know in advance that a deep cleaning would not be therapeutic at all. Other adjunctive and helpful procedures may also be provided during surgery such as bone grafting or bone regeneration. Eliminating unnecessary pocket depth increases the possibility that the destructive forces of periodontal disease will be halted and/or contained, teeth that could have lost would be saved, and that your home care will be more effective in controlling disease for long-term dental health. Perhaps most importantly, recent research highly suggests the correlation between periodontal disease and systemic factors such as cardiovascular disease, glycemic control, stroke, pre-term deliveries for expecting mothers, and most recently pancreatic cancer. Therefore, periodontal surgery can also dramatically create and support your overall health!