There is a lot of talk about periodontitis, but it is not necessarily an in-depth scientific topic outside the professional environment. Some of the most powerful weapons to fight against it are specific knowledge and hygiene, practiced constantly and correctly.
Periodontal disease (also called periodontitis) is an inflammatory bacterial infection that, if left untreated, leads to tooth loss through progressive damage to the gingival attachment and bone around the teeth. In other words, the gums and bone tissue shrink, exposing the teeth more and more, increasing their mobility and exposing them to the attack of bacteria. Everything inevitably leads to tooth loss.
It is important to know that smoking, diabetes, avitaminosis, hormonal fluctuations and some systemic diseases can aggravate periodontal disease, in any of its stages.
That is why there is periodontology. In order to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases of the marginal periodontium (i.e. gingival and supporting tissues of the tooth).
The onset of periodontal disease is gingivitis, caused by bacterial plaque not removed in time. At this stage, discomfort and gingival bleeding occurs when brushing and chewing. It is an alarm signal that the periodontist must be visited, because at this stage of gingivitis, the course of events is reversible following professional treatments, followed by daily and rigorous personal hygiene.
If left untreated, gingivitis progresses to the periodontal disease itself, because the bacteria spread and multiply on the tooth, at the gingival margin and in the gingival groove in the form of subgingival bacterial plaque. If not removed properly and in time, it will form the periodontal pouch, an infected pocket containing plaque, bacteria, tartar, granular tissue and toxins. This mix will adhere to the surface of the root of the teeth and will begin to destroy the supporting bone of the teeth. The next bad step: the teeth will mobilize.
Periodontal disease can be treated by a meticulous control of the bacterial plaque, complemented by a periodontal treatment that aims to reduce periodontal pockets and stop the progression of the disease – or surgical treatment to regenerate bone and/or soft tissues.
The result of the periodontal treatment depends on the patient-doctor-nurse team, about which we also discussed on the occasion of other topics from our office. One of the most important missions for us is to advise the patient in a personalized dental hygiene technique to maintain the results obtained. Teeth with periodontal damage have a good chance of long-term survival provided that the treatment, patient compliance and maintenance of the teeth are in accordance with the recommendations of the specialist.
