What is Periodontology?
Periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that deals with the study, diagnosis & treatment of periodontal diseases, namely the gums and supporting tissues surrounding the teeth.
Gingivitis & Periodontitis
The diseases that can affect the gums and lead to connective tissue damage are gingivitis and periodontitis. In gum disease, the gums swell, flare up and ache. This is mainly due to poor oral hygiene and the wrong way of brushing the teeth. Gingivitis that is not effectively treated develops in most cases as periodontitis. With careful clinical examination and radiological check, your dentist can diagnose whether your annoyances are due to gingivitis or periodontitis.
What are the causes of their occurrence?
The most common cause of gum diseases is the microbial plaque, which is then transformed into stone with the help of saliva. Additional factors may also be smoking, hormonal disorders, diabetes, pregnancy, and so on.
Periodontitis & Symptoms
In periodontitis, the gums are detached from the tooth and form “pockets” full of germs.As a result:
- We notice mobility in the teeth and periodontal pockets.
- Our gums are red, swollen and painful.
- There can be bleeding, pus between the gums and teeth or abscess in the gums.
What is the treatment of periodontitis?
To deal with periodontitis, early diagnosis and treatment are important. Its treatment is intended to eliminate the inflammation in the gums and the bone around the roots and to stop the gradual loss of teeth support.Treatment can be conservative or surgical, depending on the severity of the problem.
Conservative treatment
The periodontist undertakes the correct cleansing of the teeth “pockets” by radical scraping. This specifically removes the dental plaque and stone from the root of the tooth and smoothes out the tooth root to remove any bacterial toxins. Periodontal treatments are performed under anesthesia and the administration of analgesics.
When can I get back to work?
The patient may return back to work and his daily habits the same or the next day after treatment.
Surgical treatment
Due to the severity of the problem and in case the conservative treatment does not help, you may need to proceed to surgical treatment to correct any anatomical lesions and cosmetic problems that have been caused by the damage of its gums and tissues.
The role of the patient
We should emphasize here that the patient’s cooperation in the treatment of periodontitis is very important and can catalyze the performance and completion of his/her treatment.
The patient should adhere to the rules of proper dental hygiene & carefully follow the dental follow-up program given by his dentist. Visits to the dentist should be adjusted every 3-6 months to ensure proper checking and prevention of further aggravating conditions.