Periodontal Disease

It is an inflammatory disease that affects the periodontal tissues of a tooth. It starts as gingivitis, and it can spread to the supporting tissues and affect the bone. It is a prevalent disease caused by bacteria in the plaque. Bad oral hygiene is the primary factor for periodontal disease, followed by other contributing factors, including poor habits, certain medications, and chronic illnesses.

This condition is also known as gum disease. It always starts in the gingiva, but if not treated, it spreads to all elements of the periodontal complex. There are several types of gum disease, which can be categorized into acute and chronic forms. It is considered to be the number one disease in the world.

Causes:

The main reason gum disease occurs is poor oral hygiene. Plaque and tartar are the two most important factors. It all starts with gingivitis, but soon spreads. The tartar applies pressure to the periodontal tissues and causes damage that cannot be repaired. Smoking is also found to be one of the factors that can lead to gum disease. Patients with immunodeficiency are more prone to getting this disease. Diabetes and HIV are commonly associated with periodontal disease. Patients who already have other conditions can be very hard to treat.

Symptoms:

The first symptoms are mild and barely noticeable. It all starts with symptoms from the gums, such as bleeding, swelling, a change of color to an inflamed red, bad breath, and more. As the disease progresses, the symptoms are severe. They include loss of teeth, loose teeth that barely hold on to the socket, migration of teeth, receding gums, bleeding, pain, hypersensitivity, tartar, plaque, and more. The first sign of periodontal disease is a periodontal pocket. This space between the tooth and the periodontal complex, which used to be full of periodontal fibers, connects the tooth. The disease causes damage to all parts of the periodontal ligament and eventually destroys the bone. All of the damage is irreversible, which is why it’s crucial to prevent periodontal disease or treat it promptly. What starts as a painless condition can actually end with the loss of all teeth.

Treatment:

Prevention is the key. So to avoid all of this, you have to take care of your teeth. Brush twice a day, floss, and visit a dentist at least twice a year. The diagnosis is set by doing a dental exam and X-rays. The dentist will first examine the oral cavity, and by using a special periodontal probe, he will find out if there are any periodontal pockets present. Also, panoramic X-rays will show bone loss. If the patient has periodontal disease, the treatment aims to halt its progression. The damage cannot be reversed, but dentists will help in preventing further problems. Some types of gum disease require the prescription of antibiotics. The dental treatment includes teeth cleaning, scaling, and root planing. Numerous surgical procedures can help during the treatment.