Provide preoperative and intraoperative (local) analgesia where appropriate.

       Some soft tissue periodontal pockets may be due to chronic minor gingival enlargement, or bone loss with decreased attachment levels.If there is sufficient attached gingiva remaining, a simple gingivoplasty of excess or inflamed gingival margin can immediately reduce the pocket depth.A 12‐fluted bur (finishing bur) can be used to gently remove the excess tissue and provide a contoured feathered edge to the gingival margin (Figure 5.2).

       Identify and select periodontal pockets of appropriate depth for additional therapy (3–5 mm) (Figure 5.3).These are moderate depth, supra‐bony, soft tissue pockets.Deeper soft tissue pockets (greater than 5 mm) would require performing a gingival flap to open the site for adequate cleaning (open root planning).Figure 5.2 Use of a 12‐fluted bur to recontour areas of mild gingival enlargement, surgically reducing the pocket depth.Figure 5.3 (a) Probe inserting into periodontal pocket (5 mm in depth). (b) Probe placed at the 5‐mm mark on top of the gingiva to indicate the depth of the pocket.Deeper infra‐bony pockets (with vertical bone loss) would require more advanced periodontal procedure with gingival flap for access, complete curettage of infra‐bony pocket, and placement of material to encourage bone regrowth.

       Select appropriate hand curette: curettes have a round toe at the end and rounded back (in cross‐section, they have a half‐moon shape and a flat edge, which is the face of the instrument).Curettes are double‐ended: the two ends are mirror images of each other, as only one side will contact tooth surface for root planing.Curette working ends are numbered (e.g. 11/12), with varying angulations (designed in human dentistry to clean specific tooth surfaces). Some equipment companies have specialized veterinary curettes (feline).Size of working ends can also vary: some smaller types (mini) may be useful for instrumentation in periodontal pockets of small dogs and cats.

       Insert curette head into depth of pocket, adjusting the cutting edge to contact the tooth surface (closed face) (Figure 5.4).

       With a pull stroke, bring curette edge down the surface of the root, dislodging calculus and debris. Use this pull stroke in several different directions in a cross‐hatching pattern to effectively root plane the surface free from debris (Figure 5.5).Figure 5.4 (a) Working edge of the curette placed against the tooth surface. (b) Curette advanced into depth of the pocket.Figure 5.5 With a pull stroke down, calculus and debris in the pocket can be debrided (this is demonstrated in a specimen, so no bleeding is present, as would be the case in a patient).

       As the surface is cleaned of debris, the tactile (and auditory) sensation will go from a rough feel to a smooth feel.

       With light digital pressure on the external surface of the pocket, allow the opposite edge of the curette to gently debride the diseased soft tissue (subgingival curettage or debridement). There will be moderate hemorrhage.

       Some (not all) ultrasonic units are made to allow subgingival cleaning, which allows cavitation of bacteria in addition to scaling.Other ultrasonic scalers should not be used below the gumline, as once the tip is buried the water spray cannot adequately cool the tip, potentially causing overheating and damage to tooth.

       Polish the crown surface and gently splay the foot of the prophy cup to polish a millimeter or two of the root surfaces (Figure 5.6).

       Irrigate then air dry the area thoroughly to remove any remnants of calculus, debris, or prophy paste