What is Periodontitis? What are the Symptoms and How to Treat Periodontitis?
Periodontitis, which is an important gum disease, can damage the soft tissues and cause dislocation of the teeth and thus tooth loss. If not diagnosed and treated, it can harm the bones that support the teeth and cause a serious infection.
Periodontitis, a common gum disease, can be prevented if routine and correct oral care is performed. It is mostly seen as a result of deterioration of oral hygiene. Regular brushing of teeth, flossing, and routine dental examinations provide great protection against periodontitis.
There are common types of periodontitis: Aggressive, chronic, and necrotic. In cases of aggressive periodontitis, there is very rapid bone loss. The reason here is genetic factors. In chronic periodontitis, bone loss usually progresses more slowly. In necrotic cases, lesion in the gingiva and surrounding tissues is seen. It is contagious and dangerous. It occurs in people with malnutrition and weakened immune systems.
There are main symptoms of periodontitis. The most common ones are listed below:
- Swollen gums,
- Dark red or purple colored gums,
- Gums that bleed easily,
- Bleeding during toothbrushing,
- Bad breath,
- Dislocated teeth,
- Tooth loss,
- Pain when chewing,
- Gaps between teeth.
How is Periodontitis Treated?
Periodontitis treatment is performed by a specialist dentist. The aim of the treatment is to clean the spaces around the gums and not damage the bone. Having good oral health and being a nonsmoker significantly increase the chances of treatment for a patient.
In cases where periodontitis does not progress, non-surgical applications are preferred. One of these applications is the removal of tartar and bacteria on the tooth surface with the help of a laser. Root tip resection also targets harmful bacteria and prevents their formation. In this way, it becomes easier for the gum to attach to the tooth surface. In some cases, antibiotics are used. These are oral or topical antibiotics. They can penetrate the space between the gums.
In advanced cases of periodontitis, dental surgery may be required. One of the methods is to remove a part of the gingival tissue with the help of an incision and interfere with the root tip. The underlying bone can also be reshaped at this time. It's called flap surgery. In bone grafting, the bone surrounding the tooth root is usually very damaged. The graft is a small piece of the patient's own bone. The aim is to prevent tooth loss by keeping the tooth in place.
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