The aim of effective treatment of periodontal diseases is to arrest the inflammatory disease process by removing the subgingival biofilm to establish a local environment compatible with periodontal health. The treatment offered to the periodontal patient by the clinician may be nonsurgical or surgical mechanical debridement. Flap reflection is considered more invasive, but can be more effective in increasing the clinician's ability to debride. Surgical access therapy can only be considered as adjunctive to cause-related therapy. Procedures which require elevation and reflection of the...