Open Flap Curettage

The basic procedure known as open flap curettage involves the following:

• The periodontal surgeon lifts, or flaps, the gums away from the tooth and surrounding bone.
• The diseased root surfaces are cleaned and curetted (scraped) to remove deposits.
• Gum tissue is replaced into position to minimize pocket depth.
• The periodontist may also contour the remaining bone (osseous surgery) and attempt to regenerate lost bone and gingival attachment through bone grafts and guided tissue regeneration.