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Did you know that almost half of adults over the age of 30 suffer from some type of periodontal disease? That is why it is very important to monitor the health of the gums.
What is periodontics?
It is a specialty of dentistry that studies the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the gums, root cement and alveolar bone in one way or another.
The main periodontal diseases are gingivitis (inflammation with bleeding gums) and periodontitis (destruction of the bone that supports the teeth). Untreated gingivitis usually leads to periodontitis and ends with the loss of teeth.
Gingivitis can be reversed by reducing inflammation of the gums, starting with good oral hygiene to control plaque bacteria and removing tartar through professional dental cleaning.
Periodontitis is irreversible since lost bone cannot be recovered.
There are factors that contribute to the development of these diseases such as tobacco, stress, dental crowding, bruxism, diabetes or hypertension.
It is very difficult to detect these diseases since they do not cause pain with few exceptions, but we must pay attention to bleeding and suppuration.
Diagnosis is made after oral examination and x-rays. The degree of inflammation of the gums and bone loss is determined and the treatment to be followed is defined.
What are periodontal diseases?
We can include periodontal diseases in two large groups:
– Gingivitis: if it affects only the gum.
– Periodontitis: if it affects the periodontium.
The gingivitis It is an inflammation in the gum produced by the accumulation of bacterial plaque. This type of disease does not affect the bone tissue, so it is considered a reversible inflammation if it is treated properly; on the contrary, if there is no good treatment, it becomes irreversible becoming periodontitis.
The periodontitis It is an inflammation of the periodontium with destruction of the alveolar bone produced by bacteria. These bacteria are located in the space between the tooth and the gum, giving rise to an inflammatory process that causes periodontal pockets.
It is considered an irreversible disease and therefore, the bone that has been lost cannot be recovered.
Apart from bacteria and genetic predisposition, there are other secondary factors associated with this disease, such as smoking, certain medications, some systemic diseases (arterial hypertension or diabetes), dental malpositions and habits such as bruxism.
When to see a periodontic specialist?
The more periodontal disease progresses, its treatment becomes longer and more expensive, so it is important to see a periodontist if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Your gums are red, swollen, or bleed when you brush or floss.
- You suffer from chronic bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
- You find that your teeth look longer, which may be a sign of recessions.
- The alignment of your teeth is altered or you feel that a tooth is moving.
- You notice alterations in your bite, if the teeth move or are loose, you will notice that your mouth feels different when biting or chewing food.
- If you feel greater dental sensitivity to hot or cold foods.
- If you suffer from diabetes, since the bacteria responsible for causing periodontal diseases feed on sugar and people with diabetes tend to have a higher level of sugar in their saliva, so they may be more vulnerable to periodontal disease.
He Dr. Daniel Fernandez is a specialist in periodontics who has more than 10 years of experience in the placement of dental implants and periodontal treatments.
The most important thing for us is your oral health, we want to see you smile with confidence!
Explanatory note: the information provided in this blog is for informational purposes and should not be taken as a means of diagnosis or treatment.