Periodontology. Symptoms, prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases
La parodontologia, cura e prevenzione della parodontite, piorrea
Periodontology deals with the treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases
Periodontology deals with the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, more commonly known as " periodontitis " or even better known long ago as "pyorrhea". Periodontitis is, in scientific terms, the inflammation of the periodontium , that is, of everything around the roots of the teeth, gums, alveolar-dental ligaments , alveoli and bone system. Inflammation almost always due to poor or incorrect dental hygiene which, if continued over time, becomes chronic causing the detachment of the gums from the teeth and giving rise to the formation of the so-called " periodontal pockets " which in turn cause damage to the alveolar bone with the consequent reduction of its height. If the chronicity occurs, the teeth begin to falter and if action is not taken urgently and with adequate methods, the loss of the affected teeth will be inevitable.
We have always considered periodontal health as the priority and fundamental step for the care of the mouth health of our patients. In the absence of good control of bacterial plaque and consequent gingival inflammation, dental therapies are inevitably doomed to failure.
The warning symptoms of periodontitis
gingival inflammation , affecting about 50% of adults, which very often begins with the simple bleeding of the gums during daily cleaning of the teeth or when chewing particularly solid foods;
the swelling of the gums , which become more and more sensitive to the contact of the toothbrush and food;
halitosis , that is, stinking breath and the distortion of taste sensitivity;
the apparent lengthening of the teeth (determined by the retraction of the gums and bone resorption).
What are the main causes that favor the onset of periodontitis?
Diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease Union Dental Tirana
The practice for the treatment of all patients suffering from periodontal disease includes a diagnostic phase for an evaluation as complete as possible of the health of the gums and of the supporting structures of the teeth. This evaluation first of all involves the collection of a series of measurements through the so-called periodontal probing , i.e. the measurement with calibrated instruments of a standard series of parameters on each tooth (the depth of the sulcus formed between the gingiva and the tooth surface, the possible retraction of the margin of the gum compared to the original position, dental mobility and others).
Subsequently, radiographs are performed according to protocols that allow a precise evaluation of the relationships existing at the level of the skeletal tissues and the roots of the teeth. The information collected in the first visit is used to guide towards the most suitable type of preliminary or initial therapy, that is, the control of present and active inflammation.
Periodontal therapies.
Initial therapy usually involves the removal of bacterial plaque and tartar present at the supra and subgingival level during one or more appointments depending on the situation (usually 4 appointments in a patient with a widespread periodontal problem.
After this initial phase, a diagnostic re-evaluation phase takes place, in which the parameters already evaluated and measured in the first visit are again analyzed for a diagnostic evaluation to compare with the initial picture. In most patients, initial therapy is capable of producing significant improvements. Where lesions remain especially at the bone level, a consequence of the previous untreated periodontal disease, a further phase of therapy to correct the defects still present will be necessary.
At this point, periodontal therapies provide for a simultaneous assessment of any further therapeutic needs of each patient (possible missing teeth, previous therapies with problems, etc.). Finally, maintenance over time through the so-called maintenance periodontal therapy is a prerequisite for long-term success.