Periodontal Disease is also called Periodontitis or Gum Disease. It is a serious gum infection that damages the gums and soft tissues and can even destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontal Disease can cause your teeth to loosen and can also lead to tooth loss. In this article, we shall be using the terms Periodontal Disease and Periodontitis interchangeably.
Periodontal Disease is both common and preventable. It is usually caused by poor oral hygiene. If you want to prevent Periodontal Disease, you should brush at least twice daily, floss regularly, and visit your dentist at least once every six months.
There are certain typical symptoms of Periodontal Disease and you know you have Periodontal Disease when you have some of these symptoms. They are swollen, puffy and bleeding gums; bright red or purplish gums; gums that are tender when touched; pink-tinged toothbrush after brushing; spitting out blood when brushing or flossing; bad breath; pus between your tooth and gums; painful chewing; loose teeth; new spaces developing between your teeth; receding gums, and a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite. If you have any or all these symptoms you should consult your dentist straight away.
Different Types of Periodontal Disease
There are several different types of Periodontal Disease or Periodontitis. Some of them are:
- Aggressive Periodontitis: This occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss as well as rapid bone destruction.
- Chronic Periodontitis: This results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, leading to bone loss. This is the most frequently-occurring type of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and recession of the gums. It is usually prevalent in adults but can happen at any age.
- Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic disease: This often begins at a young age. Certain systemic conditions such as diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease are associated with this form of Periodontal Disease.
- Necrotizing Periodontal Disease: This is an infection characterized by necrosis of the gums and alveolar bone. This usually occurs in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition, and immunosuppression.
Causes of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal Disease starts with the formation of plaque. Plaque is a sticky film composed mainly of bacteria. If left untreated, plaque can cause Periodontitis. This is how it can happen:
- Plaque forms on your teeth: Plaque is formed when starches and sugars in food interact with the bacteria in your mouth. You should brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove plaque. However, the latter forms again very quickly.
- Plaque can harden under your gum line into tartar (calculus): If plaque stays on your teeth the resulting tartar is filled with bacteria and is more difficult to remove. The longer that plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the more detrimental they can be. You will not be able to get rid of tartar by brushing or flossing. You need to get a professional cleaning of your teeth by your dentist.
- Plaque can form gingivitis: Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease. It is irritation and inflammation of that part of your gum tissue at the base of your teeth. You can reverse gingivitis with professional treatment and good oral hygiene at home.
- Ongoing gum inflammation can cause Periodontal Disease: Ongoing gum inflammation causes pockets to develop between your gums and teeth. These pockets fill with plaque, tartar, and bacteria. In time, these pockets fill up with even more bacteria. These result in deep infections with loss of tissue and bone. You may also lose one or more teeth and chronic Periodontal Disease can put a strain on your immune system.
Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease
Some of the risk factors that can predispose towards Periodontal Disease are:
- Gingivitis
- Poor oral health habits
- Hormonal changes, that occur due to pregnancy or menopause
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Recreational drug use such as marijuana
- Inadequate nutrition
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Certain medications that can cause gum changes
- Certain systemic diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s Disease
Conditions causing decreased immunity, such as HIV/AIDS, leukaemia, and cancer treatment
Treatment for Periodontal Disease
Gingivitis can be treated before it develops into Periodontitis. More severe forms of Periodontal Disease may need to be treated successfully, but extensively. Such periodontal gum disease treatment may include a deep cleaning of the tooth-root surfaces below the gums. It may also include medications to be taken by mouth or placed under the gums, and occasionally, corrective surgery.
In the case of Periodontal Disease, prevention is certainly better than cure. In order to prevent Periodontal Disease, you should follow a stringent oral hygiene regimen. You should brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove plaque-causing bacteria and deposits. You should also visit your dentist at least once a year for a check-up or more frequently if you have any of the symptoms of Periodontal Disease.
At Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, we believe that the health of your gums is as important as the health of your teeth. We offer varied treatments for Periodontal Disease, such as supra-gingival (above the gum line) and sub-gingival (below the gum line) cleaning and scaling; periodontal or flap surgery; bone grafting or reconstructive osseous surgery, and mucogingival surgery.
We also use laser treatment for Periodontal Disease because of their advantages over conventional surgical treatments. Some of these advantages include minimized trauma to the tissues; minimal blood loss, and rapid healing of the surgical site.
So, if you suffer from Periodontal Disease, do visit Vistadent, for the best and most cutting-edge periodontal treatment in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, India. At Vistadent, we ensure that each one of our clients is completely satisfied with the treatment they have received. We work with each client individually and holistically and will come up with a treatment plan for Periodontal Disease that will work best for you. So, don’t wait for any longer…Vistadent is the place to go!
For more information about Periodontal Disease or any other dental problems, as well as other dental procedures, contact Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, at 040-23388111 or +91 9866572482 or at info@vistadent.net or visit our website at http://vistadent.net/.