When periodontology is mentioned in the context of dentistry, many people see it as some kind of incomprehensible, futuristic term, even though this branch of science not only has a long history but also plays an extremely important role.
Periodontologists, you see, deal with diseases of the gums, the periodontium, and the oral mucosa. Their role is unquestionable in modern dentistry because periodontal diseases are considered very common dental problems among the Hungarian population.
However, as many people still do not know what periodontology deals with, or what problems and symptoms can lead someone to consult a periodontist, we have compiled the most important related information in our article.
If you are also suffering from unpleasant gum disease, contact us with confidence: periodontology.
A parodontológus az íny- és csontbetegségekkel foglalkozik.
As we have already described in the introduction, the periodontist primarily deals with the diagnosis and treatment of gum diseases.
This examines inflammation of the gums, periodontal tissues, and the oral mucosa, its causes and other changes, and after diagnosis, it also provides targeted intervention.
Most periodontal diseases are attributable to inadequate oral hygiene and usually begin with gingivitis.
In milder cases, these can be easily resolved with minor treatments, but for extensive or prolonged inflammations, more complex dental interventions are required, as severe periodontal disease can even lead to tooth loss.
The most common periodontal diseases are:
Tonsillitis.,
Gum retraction,
Island disappearance,
gum inflammation,
Oral mucosal lesions.
Periodontal treatment at Naturadent clinic
Symptoms of periodontal disease
Although several types of periodontal disease are known, below we will introduce the three most common types in more detail – with a particular focus on the associated symptoms.
Symptoms of gum inflammation
Gingivitis is undoubtedly the most common periodontal condition, most often caused by a lack of proper oral hygiene.
During meals, plaque forms on the teeth, which contains a lot of harmful bacteria and pathogens. If they accumulate, dental plaque forms, which hardens in the long term and turns into tartar.
Tartar not only creates a vicious cycle in this process, but also irritates the gums and causes unpleasant inflammation. However, this can be easily prevented if we undergo professional tartar removal regularly, at least once a year.
The most typical symptoms of gingivitis are the following:
Red swelling of the gums, sensitivity, pain;
bleeding primarily experienced during tooth brushing;
unpleasant breath;
sensitivity to cold and heat;
In more severe cases, gum recession and tooth loosening can occur.
Symptoms of gum recession
Gum recession, or gingival recession, is usually a complication of gingivitis. It occurs when the layer of gum that normally tightly surrounds the teeth starts to recede.
In addition to severe gingivitis caused by inadequate oral hygiene, it can be triggered by aggressive brushing, misaligned teeth, and is common among those with lip and tongue piercings. Hereditary factors can also influence its development.
A serious periodontal problem, as in this case the tooth root becomes unprotected against pathogens, with nothing to shield them from the destructive effects of bacteria, which can cause a lot of discomfort and complications.
The most characteristic symptoms of gum recession are the following:
The gum is visibly receding from the tooth.;
The teeth appear to get larger because with gum recession, the root surface of the tooth becomes visible.;
The gums will be red, swollen, and painful;
Bad breath develops as a result of associated gingivitis;
After the tooth neck comes into contact with the outside world, the affected area becomes particularly sensitive to cold and heat.
Symptoms of gum disease
Periodontal disease can also be considered a complication of gingivitis. It is a chronic, bacteria-induced inflammation that affects far more people than are actually diagnosed in periodontology.
It is particularly dangerous because the last stage is before tooth loss. If it is not recognised in time and the inflammation is not prevented from spreading to the bone tissue, the teeth will loosen and fall out.
Furthermore, research confirms that untreated periodontal disease can contribute to the development of conditions such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, joint issues, hair loss, eye diseases, or premature birth in pregnant women.
It is very important that gum disease is diagnosed at its early stages, as with the laser technology used by NaturaDent, for example, the process can still be reversed at this stage.
The most characteristic symptoms of gum disease are the following:
Recurrent or persistent gingivitis;
constant gum bleeding, not just when brushing teeth, but also when eating;
significant gum pain and visible recession;
gum swelling, redness;
bad breath;
tooth displacement, migration;
In more severe cases, the teeth may become crooked or fall out.
The most common periodontal treatments
Periodontology is a highly advanced branch of dentistry, and as such, periodontists have numerous treatment options available for the conditions presented above. Let's look at the most common ones:
Dental plaque removal
Tartar removal is one of the best methods for preventing the development of complications from milder gum inflammation, and for treating the underlying problem.
It is very important to note that home methods are not sufficient in this regard, and in fact, most of them cause irreversible damage to tooth enamel, which is why it is worth entrusting the procedure to professionals in all cases.
One of the most effective methods is ultrasonic tartar removal, for which modern dental practices use high-performance depurators, which can gently loosen tartar with high-frequency vibrations and water atomisation.
In addition to its effectiveness, ultrasonic tartar removal has the advantage of not damaging tooth enamel at all. It also includes tooth polishing and cleaning, which can provide longer-term protection against tartar buildup and gum inflammation.
Curettage
Curettage is also an effective method for treating periodontal diseases. We distinguish between
closed
and open curettage.
The essence of closed curettage is to reach the subgingival part of the tooth surface with special instruments. This is because periodontal pockets located here often cause more severe inflammation and periodontal disease.
The method does not require reflection of the gum flap, however, inflamed tissues located near the surface and infected root cement can be easily removed from the surroundings of the tooth.
Open curettage is performed when the causes of inflammation are located deeper. In such cases, it is essential to incise the surface of the gum so that even the deepest periodontal pockets can be cleaned.
For this method, due to the gum incision, it is essential to secure the scar with sutures, which can be removed after 10-14 days following complete healing.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment represents a completely new level of periodontology, which is uniquely applied in Hungary exclusively by NaturaDent dental practice, using devices developed by researchers from the RWTH Aachen University in Germany.
Dental lasers offer a way to gently and with outstanding precision destroy aggressive bacteria that cause inflammation, even those that are resistant to antibiotics.
Laser treatment can be used not only to treat gingivitis but also offers a great alternative for early-stage and even advanced periodontitis.
The more complex the problem, the more complex the treatment, or laser deep cleaning, is required to achieve the desired effect.
The main areas of laser treatment:
Laser pocket disinfection: if too many bacteria have reached the surface of the tooth root, they can accumulate in pockets, which can be treated with a dental laser.
Laser curettage: This method can remove both the bacteria that cause gum inflammation and the tissue that has died from inflammation, and can even eliminate active inflammatory conditions.
Laser resection: whereby the inflamed root apex is removed and the surrounding inflamed areas are treated with laser.
Laser vestibuloplasty: A laser procedure associated with receding and damaged inflamed gums, by which the health and firmness of the gum can be restored.
