PERIODONTOLOGY is concerned with the supporting tissues of the tooth (the gums, the bone, and the alveolodental ligament (also called periodontal))
What is dental plaque and how is it formed?
Dental plaque is a whitish substance that is permanently deposited on the surface of the teeth. It is made up of bacteria trapped in a substance very adherent to the teeth.
The oral cavity naturally contains several hundred different bacteria. A few minutes after a food intake, bacteria adhere to the tooth surface. Their quantity increases progressively and they secrete a very adherent substrate to the teeth in which they organize themselves into a real ecosystem: this is what is called dental plaque.
Why and how to remove dental plaque?
If they are not eliminated regularly by effective brushing, the bacteria will cause, in addition to the appearance of cavities and other dental pathologies, inflammation of the gum and therefore bleeding when brushing, this is the first stage of a disease. periodontal: Gingivitis. In addition, dental plaque will mineralize and thus form tartar.
Depending on the particularities of each, the organizations defend themselves more or less well against this aggression. Some will develop significant lesions in the presence of a reduced amount of dental plaque, while others can withstand a large amount of plaque without injury. It is therefore possible that you are more or less sensitive to caries and periodontal diseases.
It is important to have an effective brushing method.
what is a gingivitis?
The gum is the pink colored mucous tissue that surrounds the teeth.
When she suffers an attack (infection, presence of tartar, etc.)
gingivitis sets in.
In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum, which swells, turns dark red and bleeds at the slightest contact: brushing teeth, eating, etc. Without treatment, it promotes loosening and can also accelerate tooth loss.
Most often gingivitis is caused by the presence of excess tartar, itself produced by dental plaque. Dental plaque and tartar are favorable environments for the proliferation of bacteria, and therefore for localized infection of the gum tissue.
Often linked to poor oral hygiene, gingivitis is however favored by certain situations: pregnancy, smoking, diabetes, badly positioned teeth or poorly cared for decay, or even unsuitable or more suitable prostheses.
The treatment of gingivitis is based on:
- improved dental hygiene
- the elimination of aggravating factors (tobacco, dental malposition, etc.)
- meticulous descaling carried out in the office
- medical means (antiseptics or even antibiotics)
Left untreated, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis
What is a parodontite?
Periodontitis, also called loosening of the teeth, affects 80% of the western adult population, making it the most common chronic disease. It is distinguished from gingivitis because there is bone damage here by bacteria and not just the gums.
Originally, periodontitis is characterized by an infection of the gum and the bone that surrounds the teeth. The infection destroys the periodontal tissues that support the teeth (gum, cementum, ligament and jawbone). As the disease progresses, a periodontal pocket forms between the gum and the root of the tooth. It quickly becomes the reservoir of a large quantity of bacteria and tartar which aggravates the irritation of the gums, and prevents healing. At its most advanced stage, periodontitis causes tooth loss.
What are the symptoms of periodontitis?
Among the telltale signs of a possible periodontitis: red and swollen gums which bleed easily when brushing, dental mobility, bad breath, black spaces between the teeth, displacements of the teeth, gum abscess, and especially tooth loosening.
How to treat periodontitis?
Periodontitis is infections of the periodontal tissues (gums and underlying bone) that support the teeth. The treatment is based on cleaning and disinfection.
The initial treatment of periodontitis
The disinfection of periodontal tissues is based jointly on:
- The home use of specific equipment, which we adapt to each patient, making it possible to effectively clean the teeth even in the most difficult to access areas (dental floss, interdental brushes, interdental jet, etc.)
- An anti-infective treatment on prescription from the practitioner. In some cases, the use of antibiotics may be considered
- A dental surfacing performed in the office under local anesthesia in order to disinfect and clean the periodontal pockets present along the tooth roots, followed by a painless laser treatment.
- If the results obtained by the non-surgical methods above are not sufficient, surgical sanitation will be considered to clean the periodontal pockets in direct vision.
How to maintain the results of periodontal treatment?
To maintain the benefit of the treatment, periodontal maintenance therapy consisting of cleaning and very regular dental scaling and surfacing should be implemented. This maintenance lasts a lifetime and must be followed with the greatest care. This is probably the most important phase of your treatment, with perfect daily hygiene practices.
In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
In addition to this, you will need to know more about it.
