Tratamiento periodontal quirúrgico: Revisión. Conceptos. Consideraciones. Procedimientos. Técnicas

periodontal treatment can be divided in three different phases most frequently superposed: cause-related or initial phase, corrective phase and supportive periodontal phase. because the majority of these pathologies are related to plaque accumulation, periodontal surgical treatment might only be considered as an adjunct to cause-related periodontal therapy. the kind of surgery performed, the number of sites included and the moment at which it should performed is decided after evaluating for the initial cause-related therapy results. the ultimate objective of periodontal surgical treatment is the long term preservation of the periodontium. periodontal surgery can contribute to this end creating accessibility for an adequate scaling and root planning therefore restoring the gingival morphology which facilitates the automatic plaque control of the patient. developed surgical techniques must be evaluated on the basis of their potential to facilitate the elimination of subgingival deposits, as well as facilitate plaque control and thus improve the long term preservation of the periodontium. in the present article the authors review the basis of surgical periodontal treatment as well as related concepts and considerations, objectives, indications and contraindications, procedures and factors that determine the selection of one or the other surgical technique.