Periodontal is a term used to denote the area around the tooth while periodontics is the dental specialty that emphasizes the inflammatory diseases that affect the teeth, gums, and supporting structures around this area. Periodontal disease/gum disease is one that affects the tissues around the teeth. It occurs due to the buildup of plaque as a result of poor brushing and flossing habits or infrequent dental care visits to remove build-up under the gums.
Signs and Symptoms of Gum Diseases
Gum disease manifests in many ways. Look below for some of the major signs of gum disease:
- Bleeding gums
- Bad breath caused by bacteria in the mouth
- Loose and poorly-spaced teeth. When the periodontal fibers weaken and there is bone loss, the teeth become weak and new spacing appears.
- Receding, swollen red gums
Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal diseases can be diagnosed with your dental hygienist or dentist. They carry out a periodontic examination as part of a normal dental check-up meant to ensure good oral hygiene and health.
The dental hygienist utilizes a periodontal probe to measure the space that exists between the teeth and gums. Normally, the sulcus should be less than 3 mm and should not bleed. However, the dental probe may indicate a distance deeper than 3 mm, which signals the existence of periodontal disease/gum disease.
The depth of the pocket, movement of teeth, inflammation, and bleeding among other symptoms will be the standard against which the dentist makes a diagnosis.
There are various categories including:
- Gingivitis. This is the initial stage of periodontal disease/gum disease. The gums become tender, inflamed, and may bleed as a result of calculus.
- Periodontitis. This happens when plaque hardens and becomes tartar. During tartar buildup, gum recession occurs, and pockets become deeper. These pockets are infested with pus and bacteria, causing the gums to be irritated, inflamed, and to bleed.
- Advanced periodontitis. Advanced periodontal disease is characterized by loose teeth that may eventually be lost as the gums, bones, and ligaments are continuously destroyed. You may notice the bone and tooth loss.
Treatment of Periodontal Disease
The dentist will treat gum disease according to its stage of development. Early stages can be cured through non-surgical means.
In the early stages of gingivitis, the dentist may have to do one or two non-surgical dental cleaning exercises to restore your teeth.
However, if the gingivitis has advanced, the dentist will have to carry out scaling and root planing. This is a more advanced type of cleaning that is done in quadrants. When one quarter is being cleaned, the dentist numbs it so they can remove pockets of bacteria, plaque, and tartar from underneath the gum line (scaling). Planing involves smoothening the rough surfaces on the teeth.
This procedure gives your gum tissue a chance to heal and the pockets will shrink. The dentist will then educate you on the risk factors and advise you on the good oral habits that you need to follow to maintain your periodontal health.
In cases where the pockets do not heal, the dentist may decide that periodontal surgery is the only way to reduce the pockets
After treatment, you have to follow the suggested oral hygiene protocol, in some cases, special rinses or toothpaste may be prescribed to you. Brush your teeth and floss regularly to prevent the formation of tartar on the teeth.
Periodontal Care after Treatment
Apart from brushing and flossing regularly, you will need to see a dental hygienist or dentist at least four times a year so they can do maintenance cleaning and monitor the progress of your pocket depths to ensure they are healthy. During this procedure, they can also reach plaque that is in hidden parts below the gum line. Other tests may be done to ensure that your mouth remains healthy.
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