WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?HOW TO TREAT THEM?

You may have heard in advertisements that some dental products prevent periodontal disease. Periodontal disease refers to diseases affecting the periodontal tissues. The periodontal tissues collectively refer to the gingiva, the periodontal ligament (the PDL), the cementum and the alveolar process. The gingiva is the term used in dentistry for the gums. The periodontal ligament secures the tooth in its socket. The cementum encases the roots of the teeth, anchoring the teeth to the alveolar bone. The alveolar bone is bone that contains the sockets of the teeth. These tissues collectively aid in supporting the teeth, securing them in the jawbones. Find out more here honestfamilydental.com Definition: Periodontal Disease or periodontal pathology refers to diseases that affect any of the structures that comprise the periodontal tissues. The most frequent manifestations of periodontal disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis refers to gum tissue inflammation. It is considered to be non-destructive and easier to treat. The predominant cause of gingivitis is bacterial plaques. A recent study by Dutch and American researchers using cutting-edge technology suggests that up to 25,000 species of bacteria populate the adult mouth. If proper dental hygiene is not maintained, some bacterial species such as Streptococcus mutans adhere to each other and the teeth forming dental plaque. A buildup of dental plaque can cause it to be deposited in the grooves of the gums. Bacteria within the plaque release toxins such as lipopolysaccharide, which trigger inflammatory immune responses. Poor dental hygiene is not the only cause of gingivitis. Certain medications can reduce the flow of saliva, which aids in preventing plaque buildup. Diabetes may also be a risk factor for gingivitis. Since the body’s cells cannot utilize sugar effectively, more sugar is available for bacteria. Symptoms of gingivitis include gums that bleed as a result of brushing the teeth, swollen gums as well as bad breath. Despite these symptoms, there is no tissue damage and the teeth are still anchored tightly in their sockets. The other type of periodontal disease is periodontitis, also referred to as pyorrhea. Periodontitis is regarded as being more severe since it involves tissue damage as well as loss of the alveolar bones. Without dental care periodontitis can result in tooth loss. Symptoms of periodontitis are similar to gingivitis, so immediate dental care is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. A clinical examination involving examination of the gum and X-ray analysis to assess bone loss around the tooth is usually required. Treatment. The treatment options for gingivitis and periodontitis will be dealt with separately. Treating gingivitis involves the targeting of the major causative agent, the dental plaque. In the earlier stages dental plaque can easily be removed. However, over time it can harden into tartar. There are a variety of mechanical ways to manage gingivitis. Ultrasonic vibrations can break up the larger pieces of tartar, accompanied by spraying water to wash away the tartar debris. A dental scaler is then used. You may have seen them for sale at pharmacies; they look like little scraping hooks. Curettes are also used to scrape tarter off. Other methods of treating gingivitis include the use of interdental brushes, which are miniature brushes that clean between the teeth. There are also chemical methods to treat gingivitis. These include the use of mouth washes containing hydrogen peroxide. A study by Dutch researchers also provides evidence that mouthwashes containing essential oils is useful in gingivitis treatment. Since gingivitis involves inflammatory immune responses, novel treatments targeting inflammation are now available. These include non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) containing mouthwashes. Some of the methods used for treating periodontitis are similar to the methods used in treating gingivitis. Dental scaling is done to destroy the integrity of the dental plaque. However, because of the increased severity of periodontitis, more drastic measures are used. This includes full mouth disinfection whereby the bactericide chlorhexidine is used in conjunction with dental scaling. It should be noted that there is no broad consensus about the effectiveness of full mouth disinfection. Treating periodontitis may require periodontal surgery. Open flap debridement involves incision of the gums to gain access to deep plaque pockets. Another technique used to treat periodontitis is guided tissue regeneration (GTR), which restores the damaged components of the periodontium. Another option is enamel matrix derivative (EMD) which involves using fetal tooth extracts from pigs in order to regenerate the periodontium.