Periodontology
Treating and preventing the spread of periodontitis, a common infection that will damage soft tissue and gums and lead to tooth loss if left untreated.
TREATING PERIODONTITIS
Periodontitis is an inflamed condition around the tooth and if left untreated it can have detrimental effects on the tooth, surrounding teeth and your overall health. Also seen as a type of gum disease, periodontitis will damage the soft tissue and the bone that surrounds the base of the tooth. The unfortunate part of this condition is that in most cases it will go unnoticed and untreated until the bacterial infection has caused severe gum and jawbone destruction.
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To ensure effective treatment the doctor will have to determine whether in fact the condition is present and the extent of the infection. They generally do this by acquiring the following information:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Do a full mouth periodontal pocket recording or screening
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Take appropriate x-rays
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Do a DNA analysis to determine hereditary vulnerability of the patient
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bacterial DNA analysis (before and after) to confirm the bacteria and monitor improvements
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Good oral health certainly plays a vital part in preventing this disease, but there are also numerous other factors that can aggravate and induce the spread of the condition.Â
BENEFITS OF
PERIODONTOLOGY
BENEFITS OF PERIODONTOLOGY
• Prevent the loss of teeth
• Prevent inflammatory conditions and strongly linked conditions like strokes and heart attacks.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Bacteria and plaque build-up can sometimes form in the mouth due to bad oral hygiene. For periodontitis to occur the patient’s immune system will launch a reaction that aggravates the situation through the destruction of bone. Smoking can increase the risk of this condition and there also appears to be some links to other diseases like the increased chances of getting a stroke of heart attack
In most cases if this is caught early enough it can be treated by a variety of therapies. In extreme cases however surgery might be required. Â
Yes. In most cases the cause of this together with a genetic disposition is ongoing, bad dental hygiene. Â Â
The objective of treatment is to remove the bacteria from gums and around the teeth, including the bones, to prevent it from spreading and causing further destruction. The dentist will start to set healthy dental practices in motion by cleaning and scaling your teeth and gums with the help of an ultrasonic devices. In extreme cases some patients might have to return for another cleaning. It is important however, to immediately implement the practice of good oral hygiene. The dentist will probably also prescribe a specific mouth rinse and oral medications to help your body fight the infection. In advanced cases surgery is required where bone grafts are done and calculus is removed surgically.
