Periodontology is the direction of dentistry, which specializes in thorough study, research, prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases (the area around the teeth, which includes the gums, as well as periodontal, tooth enamel, root of the tooth and the alveolar process of the jaw.
From the vast number of diseases of the teeth and gums, it is necessary to allocate such a disease as periodontal disease. The fact is that it differs from other diseases in that it is the last stage of inflammatory diseases of the gums, which is accompanied and aggravated by internal diseases of the body. Parodontosis occurs in 5-10% of cases. It is often accompanied by diseases such as diabetes mellitus and other diseases of the endocrine organs (hormonal disorders), atherosclerosis, when blood circulation is impaired due to damage to the walls of blood vessels, which leads to insufficient nutrition of the gums, gastrointestinal diseases, hypovitaminosis, reduced immunity, etc.
Many are interested in the question of whether the treatment of periodontal disease at home. The answer is definitely negative. The only thing that can be done at home as a follow-up to the main treatment is hygienic procedures, oral care (tooth brushing with dental floss), ingestion of solid food (fruits, vegetables), which provides the necessary load on the chewing apparatus and compensates lack of vitamins in the body, which is important for maintaining overall health. Treatment of periodontal disease at home is impossible, because it is a serious process that requires medical and sometimes surgical treatment from a periodontist. It is necessary to understand that it is impossible to do without qualified help of a doctor in case of periodontal disease, and neglect can lead to loss of healthy teeth.
Diagnosis of periodontal disease
The first action the experienced doctor will perform will be a detailed history taking. And patients should not be surprised when the doctor asks in detail about which diseases you suffer from, which of them hurt your immediate family, how you eat, what mode you work with. Answers to all these questions will help the doctor to identify the causes and factors that contribute to the aggravation of the disease, as well as to choose the optimal treatment program, with the involvement of doctors of other specialties to conduct complex treatment. One of the actions that a periodontist performs in order to establish a diagnosis is to probe the periodontal pockets and determine their depth. To confirm the preliminary diagnosis will help X-ray study, which will be revealed the structure of the bone tissue of the teeth and jaw. If the porous bone structure is detected, then periodontal disease is present. When diagnosed and associated diseases are identified, the doctor determines how to treat periodontal disease in this particular case.
This will be followed by the development of a treatment strategy that is selected individually.
Periodontal treatment at the dentist
Since periodontal disease is somewhat different from other diseases of the teeth and gums, its treatment requires special qualifications. As in any other field of medicine, where each specialist treats a certain range of diseases, so in Rekent Dentistry, the periodontist treats gums.
The cause of periodontal disease, which almost always contributes to its development, is the lack of hygiene of the oral cavity, the neglected state of inflammatory diseases of the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Concomitant causes can be considered weak immunity, endocrine diseases, diseases of the stomach, vascular system, which aggravate the patient’s condition.
Modern methods of treatment of periodontal disease are to remove tartar, which in some cases requires surgical intervention .. To create a treatment regimen that requires an individual approach, the doctor prescribes tests for microflora and fungus in the oral cavity and with a positive result, treatment is aimed at eliminating them. .
The main treatment for periodontal disease is that medical ointments are laid in the periodontal pockets, which reduce inflammation and bone-building materials, which prevents further destruction of bone tissue. When periodontal disease in the gums, periodontal pockets are formed, in which microbes accumulate, food debris that falls into the periodontal pockets, they are a nutrient medium for these bacteria, so deep cleansing of periodontal pockets is one of the areas of treatment for periodontal disease. For this, it is often necessary to apply a surgical method called curettage. It is carried out with a special curette tool, with the help of which the periodontal pockets remove the tartar deposited in the depth of the gums on the neck of the tooth and penetrating deep into the roots of the teeth.
Treatment of periodontal disease includes the use of physiotherapy methods, especially effective treatment with an apparatus called an ultrasonic scaler. Also effective in the treatment of periodontal disease will be the use of the device Darsenval, vacuum massage of the gums, hydromassage and other physiotherapy procedures accompanying the main treatment. Any of these procedures should be prescribed only by a periodontist, as all of them have their own contraindications.
Further, it is necessary to take into account that along with the treatment of internal diseases, attention will have to be paid to the general state of the body, taking vitamins will improve immunity, and a proper balanced diet will restore strength and improve the patient’s general condition.
In some cases, dental prosthetics will be required, which will allow you to install crowns on damaged teeth, prostheses, they will increase the fixation of teeth prone to the disease.
And finally, surgical treatment, which is to remove the tartar at a deep level. This procedure is also called deep curettage. This is done with a curette or sometimes with the help of an operation involving the incision of the gums and the removal of the stone from under it. Surgical intervention will also allow for remediation, such as grafting and bone buildup, if necessary.