This document outlines criteria for selecting pocket elimination techniques based on pocket characteristics and accessibility. For gingival pockets, subgingival curettage is recommended for pockets with edematous walls and good accessibility, while gingivectomy is preferred for pockets with fibrotic walls or poor accessibility. For periodontal pockets, flap surgery with or without osseous contouring is selected based on the presence of adequate attached gingiva and osseous defects. Regeneration procedures are used for infrabony pockets to reconstitute lost bone, while various terms like repair, new attachment, and reattachment are defined.

1. Criteria For Selection of Pocket Elimination Techniques
1. Gingival Pockets:
It depends on:
1. Character of pocket wall
2. Accessibility of the pocket
Pocket wall Edematous Fibrotic
Accessibility
Good Subgingival curettage Gingivectomy
Poor Gingivectomy Gingivectomy
2. Periodontal Pockets
Suprabony pockets
It depends on:
1. Adequate width of attached gingiva
2. Presence of osseous defects
Adequate width Inadequate width
No defects Defects No defects Defects
Root planning (or)
Gingivectomy
Flap with osseous
contouring
Flap surgery Flap with osseous
contouring
Infrabony pockets
Flap surgery with osseous contouring
Regeneration
Reconstitution of lost part.
Repair
Healing of a wound by tissue that does not fully restore the architecture or function of the part.

2. Newattachment
Reunion of connective tissues to a root surface deprived of its periodontal ligament, usually by
chronic periodontitis. This union may occur by formation of new cementum with insertion of new
collagen fibers.
Reattachment
Reunion of connective tissues and epithelium to a root surface on which viable periodontal
ligament is still present, and does not usually involve formation of new cementum.