Periodontitis is, after caries, most common disease in dental medicine. It begins with the appearance of gingivitis, inflammatory changes which have spread on deeper tooth structures. Inflammation is caused by plaque which is spreading from the crown of tooth to its root. It results with formation of a periodontal pocket where food leftovers collects and that is suitable for development of bacteria.
When gingivitis caused by plaque is not treated adequately, the possibility of developing periodontitis increases, and once it develops, it can no longer be cured. It can only be kept under control by regular periodontal examinations and treatments. Chronic periodontitis develops through years and can be contributed by inadequate oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, hormonal changes, various diseases and medications.
Most common symptoms of periodontitis are:
- bleeding and swelling of the gums
- persistent pain in the gum area
- bad breath
- slight tooth mobility
INITIAL PERIODONTAL EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT
Periodontal therapy can be divided into 3 basic phases:
- First phase is the initial periodontal examination in which doctor makes diagnosis for patient. In this phase, dentist removes tartar and plaque and cleans all bacteria from surface layer of teeth. After cleaning, dentist will give instructions of proper oral hygiene and measure certain parameters so he could set the proper therapy for each patient.
- Second phase is an active part of the therapy. It involves cleaning and scraping all bacteria, which are causing the disease, from the roots of teeth. The procedure itself is performed under local anesthesia and can be divided into several visits, depending of doctor’s decision.
Approximately 3 months after second phase, doctor will make a revaluation based on which he will decide about further course of the therapy. If patient is following the instruction of the proper maintenance of oral hygiene – third phase follows (support phase). If not, doctor can decide to repeat second phase – periodontal treatment itself.
- Third phase refers to the monitoring of the patient after therapy is done. It includes regular check-ups, cleanings and follow-ups of instructions of a proper oral hygiene. Patient itself plays very important role through all procedure because of maintaining adequate oral hygiene, both during and after the therapy.
Periodontal treatment can be repeated at any time depending on the change of patient’s habits.
To avoid the appearance of inflammatory processes on your teeth and gums and the development of gingivitis and periodontitis, contact us in time and make an appointment for a dental examination. If you already notice the appearance of symptoms from the above, a professional team of periodontists is waiting for you at the Digital Smile Academy, who will prepare a special treatment plan for you, depending on your individual condition and the degree of the disease.
Author: dr. med. dent. M. Vukić
