Periodontal disease: gingivitis and periodontitis
Written by:Periodontics is the specialty of dentistry that studies the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases or abnormalities affecting the tissues that support the teeth.
The main periodontal diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissues without affecting dental support, caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque. In some patients, untreated gingivitis may develop into periodontitis. It is a bacterial disease that affects the gums and bone that support the teeth. It may be manifested by redness, swelling and bleeding gums when brushing. In addition, it can cause bad breath, gum recession and tooth mobility.
Periodontal disease affects up to 90% of the population over age 35, which, much of it unknown to the sufferer. Periodontitis is the primary cause of tooth loss in the global population. In the mouth we have great diversity of bacteria that, if not eliminated through good oral hygiene, can penetrate the space between the tooth and gum, causing an inflammatory reaction and destructive.
How to detect gum disease?
In most cases, the pass gum disease without the pain and many patients suffer unknowingly. Early detection and treatment are very important, the help of a dentist by a full clinical and radiological examination, can make a correct diagnosis still needed. The first signs and symptoms that appear when a healthy gums are not spontaneous bleeding or after brushing, swelling, redness and swelling of the gums.
When the problem progresses can detect other symptoms such as receding gums; teeth look longer, bad taste, pus and bad breath, mobility and separation of the teeth; increased sensitivity to the consumption of cold drinks and food, burning and sore gums.
Treatments against gingivitis and periodontitis
The main objective is to control the bacteria causing the disease. In most treatments include:1. hygienic phase: teaching proper oral hygiene by professionals for removing plaque or calculus (tartar) by scraping.2. Surgical Phase: In the cases referred perform a basic periodontal surgery, periodontal surgery and periodontal regeneration facelift.3. Maintenance phase: Once finished the treatment, the periodontist will indicate the frequency of the periodic inspections necessary to maintain the results achieved. Maintenance is a very important stage of periodontal treatment and the only way to get control of periodontal disease in the long term, as it may come back. The range of views will be established by the periodontist, based on the individual needs of each particular case, but usually ranges between 3 and 6 months.