It is the specialty of Dentistry that deals with the prevention, detection and treatment of diseases affecting the periodontal tissues.
Periodontal tissues include:
- gums
- the border
- the alveolar bone and
- the ostein
The most common diseases of these tissues are gingivitis and periodontitis.
The causes that can lead to the appearance of gingivitis and periodontitis are basically two:
1. the microbial plaque
2. the stone
Microbial plaque is a soft, organized mass of microbes that forms on the surface of teeth, prosthetic restorations and soft tissues of the mouth. It is perceived as soft deposits that remain on various surfaces of the mouth from food debris after each meal. It is these deposits that we must be trained to remove mechanically by proper and frequent brushing.
Tartar or tartar is, now, the hard microbial deposits formed by the constant contact of the salts contained in saliva, with the microbial plaque and tooth surfaces. It is the calculus/d tartar that the dentist is required to remove by appropriate methods during a cleaning visit.
The occurrence of periodontitis although associated with inadequate plaque and calculus control, may be influenced by other predisposing and aggravating factors such as:
- Smoking
- genetic factors related to heredity
- systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus
In fact, in recent years the two-way relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis has been documented, indicating the great importance of the regulation of one disease in the development of the other and vice versa.
The spectrum of periodontology also includes gingival hyphae. By 'weaving', we mean the retraction of the gums around the teeth which results in the exposure of part of the tooth root and which can cause both aesthetic (when the weaving is in an area exposed during smiling) and functional problems for patients (sensitivity of the teeth to external stimuli).
The approach of our clinic is based on three main axes:
- Prevention
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
In periodontology, prevention is perhaps the most important aspect, because through a proper prevention program, we provide the patient with all the knowledge and all the tools that will help him/her avoid future problems. The patient is educated in the application of effective oral hygiene and the relevant instructions are individualized to the needs of each patient through a series of scheduled visits and rechecks that are aimed at, prevention.
During the visit of all patients to our office, a detailed clinical and radiographic examination is performed with all modern diagnostic tools to identify and diagnose possible periodontal problems, but also to evaluate all those predisposing factors that may negatively affect the patients' periodontal health in the future. Correct diagnosis is always the most important prerequisite for effective treatment.
For the treatment of gingivitis, the first step is the removal of the supra- and sub-ulcer stones using ultrasound and special scrapers in the clinic. The patient is then given meticulous instructions on how to maintain the result.
For the treatment of periodontitis, the first line of defence is the so-called "conservative treatment", during which therapeutic removal of supra- and sub-oral deposits is carried out, usually in 2 appointments, using ultrasound and special scrapers, usually under local anaesthesia. Particular emphasis is given on individualized oral hygiene instructions, which are a very basic requirement for a positive outcome of the treatment. A very significant percentage of periodontitis cases are controlled with conservative treatment, always with the patient's cooperation in terms of oral hygiene and adherence to a programme of regular check-ups to prevent recurrence of the disease. Nevertheless, there is a percentage of cases, usually of advanced periodontitis, that do not respond to conservative treatment. In these cases we proceed to more invasive treatment methods, depending on the case.
To treat gingival hyphae, the first step is to identify what is causing them, remove the cause and proceed to cover the exposed surface, which is usually done using a graft.
