---
title: "What Is Periodontal pocket? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "A periodontal pocket is a deepened gap between a tooth and the gum that forms when gum disease damages the tissue holding the gum to the tooth."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/periodontal-pocket
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Gum Care

# Periodontal pocket

A periodontal pocket is a deepened gap between a tooth and the gum that forms when gum disease damages the tissue holding the gum to the tooth.

A healthy gum fits snugly around each tooth. When plaque builds up below the gum line, the gum pulls away from the tooth and forms a space called a pocket. Bacteria collect in the pocket, and daily brushing cannot reach them. The ADA says plaque gets trapped in these pockets and cannot be removed with regular brushing. Pockets that grow deeper can lead to [bone loss](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/bone-loss) around the tooth. A dentist or hygienist measures them with a small probe, which is called [probing depth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/probing-depth). A deep cleaning called [scaling and root planing](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/scaling-and-root-planing-deep-cleaning) cleans inside pockets. See gum disease and our [periodontal care](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/periodontal-care) page.

[Town Center Dental can helpPeriodontal Care](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/periodontal-care)

## Related terms

-   [Probing depth](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/probing-depth)
-   [Bone loss](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/bone-loss)
-   [Gum disease (periodontal disease)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gum-disease-periodontal-disease)
-   [Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/scaling-and-root-planing-deep-cleaning)
-   [Periodontitis](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/periodontitis)

## Sources

1.  [ADA MouthHealthy: Scaling and Root Planing for Gum Disease](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/scaling-and-root-planing)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)