Final answer:
Gingivectomy is a dental procedure designed to remove diseased gum tissue and is recommended for specific cases, such as when pockets form below the mucogingival junction, to eliminate suprabony pockets with firm walls, or to treat moderate pockets with mild intrabony defects, preventing further periodontal disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gingivectomy and Periodontal Disease
A gingivectomy is a surgical procedure recommended to treat certain conditions affecting the gums (gingiva) and supporting structures of the teeth. Specifically, it is typically done when there is a need to remove and reshape loose, diseased gum tissue to get rid of pockets between the teeth and gums. The procedure is recommended:
When the bottom of the pocket is apical to the mucogingival junction.
To eliminate suprabony pockets when the pocket wall is fibrous and firm.
To treat moderately deep pockets with mild intrabony defects.
Through this procedure, the overall health of the periodontal tissue can be enhanced, reducing the risk of periodontitis progression, which might eventually lead to tooth loss or the need for more invasive treatments such as extractions or implants.