Periodontology
Periodontology is the specialty of dentistry that studies supporting structures of teeth, as well as diseases and conditions that affect them.
What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that can lead to tooth loss and other serious health complications. Unfortunatelly, it’s a very common disease that affects as much as 50% of adult population.
How does it develop?
The problem starts when plaque builds up in the tissue that supports the teeth. That part is full of microorganisms and leads to gum inflamation. If you don’t remove plaque on time, gum inflamation gets worse and it starts bleeding, which makes patients scared of performing everyday oral hygiene. When the hygiene is not done properly, the condition gets worse and the infection penetrates deeper in the tissue and the bone loss around the root of the teeth starts. Those roots become stripped, and teeth less and less stable in the jaw. In the last stadium they start loosen end eventually they fall out.
How is it diagnosed?
Very simple – based on the dental examination and an x-ray image.
How is it treated?
In two phases:
- Cause-related therapy – completely removing dental plaque and periodontitical pockets (a space in between gums and teeth filled with infected content).
This way, everything that can be a cause of infection is eliminated, which is actually a key for a long term solution. It’s very inportant to know that a recipe for success is treating the cause, not the consequence!
- Surgical phase of therapy – a wide spectrum of surgical interventions depending on the indications that the patient have. The plan of the therapy is made by a doctor, specialist of periodontology.