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Periodontics is a branch of dentistry devoted to the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases – the group of conditions relating to the tissues surrounding the tooth and keeping it in the socket, such as your gums, ligaments, alveolar bone, or root cementum. Periodontitis is the inflammation of the periodontium, which can even lead to tooth loss and bone loss. You might know it as gum disease.
World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 8 out of 10 people struggle with some form of periodontal disease. They are caused by bacteria accumulating in the dental plaque, which can spread to the rest of your body if not addressed properly. With that being said, periodontics is an extremely important field of medicine and dentistry. At Great Lakes Dental Excellence, we utilize the latest research and innovative solutions to treat and prevent gum disease and similar conditions.
Your gums is a delicate tissue whose task is to support and protect the roots of your teeth. The gums are highly vascularized and easily damaged mechanically. If we do not provide them with proper care, we are putting our oral health at risk for various forms of gum disease. This extremely unpleasant ailment can have numerous complications.
The underlying disease of the gums is inflammation, which can affect the surface of your gums adjacent to one or more teeth called localized gingivitis, or the entire gums, referred to as generalized gingivitis. Usually, the disease starts in one or more places with characteristic symptoms. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease and is relatively easy to treat. Stopping its progress early is crucial for a complete recovery without further complications, as later stages of gum disease can cause irreversible damage.
The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. Ineffective or inaccurate elimination of bacteria and deposits that make up plaque leads to the formation of tartar. It consists of mineral compounds and cariogenic bacteria whose metabolic products contribute to gingivitis.
Other causes of gum disease include:
Gum disease develops quite slowly. Initial inflammation may not cause any pain. The following symptoms are indications you might want to see our dentist at Great Lakes Dental Excellence for further evaluation:
Untreated gingivitis leads to the development of a more severe form of gum disease – periodontitis. The periodontium is the tissue that fills the space between the cementum of your tooth and the alveolar bone. Over time, the build-up of plaque can move toward the roots of your teeth and surrounding tissues. Then, a pocket is created below the gum line, in which food debris collects and bacteria multiply. Periodontitis is a painful and uncomfortable condition.
The first step to treating periodontitis is to remove tartar and subgingival deposits. If irreversible gum recession has occurred, our dentist will perform a surgical procedure to cover the tooth necks. Lost bones will also be reconstructed. The treatment is long-term and requires the patient to maintain impeccable oral hygiene. Otherwise, the deposits will come back. In addition to brushing your teeth and using dental floss, you might consider utilizing mouthwash. Sometimes your dentist might recommend taking antibiotics.
When your teeth become loose or you or your dentist notice changes in your bite pattern, you most likely entered the advanced stage of periodontitis. If we do not stop the development of gum disease early enough, the risk of advanced periodontitis increases. In this stage of disease, the teeth become mobile and may fall out. Damaged jaw bones sometimes force dentists to extract your teeth altogether. The bite becomes uneven, leading to further problems.
Periodontitis increases the risk of heart disease, strokes, and some cancers as bacteria that multiply uncontrollably in the mouth enter the internal organs.
The most effective way to reduce the risk of gum disease is simply brushing your teeth regularly. Daily oral care procedures should also be supplemented with flossing, which can take care of places inaccessible to the bristles of a traditional toothbrush. Rinsing your mouth with disinfectant agents will help get rid of pathogenic bacteria. If you want to strengthen your gums, you can reach for modern sonic toothbrushes that will gently massage your teeth and your gums. They aid in eliminating the plaque and at the same time, sonic toothbrushes improve the blood supply to your gums, and thus gradually strengthening them. When inflammation occurs, you might reach for a specialized toothpaste and mouthwash with antibacterial properties (chlorhexidine), with the addition of soothing and irritation-alleviating substances.
The effective fight against gum disease depends to the greatest extent on your consistency and foresight. If you remember about regular brushing and flossing and dental check-ups and exams twice a year, the risk of unpleasant and dangerous inflammations and the development of periodontitis will be minimal.
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