Periodontology is the area of ​​Dental Medicine dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pathologies that affect the supporting tissues of our teeth: gums, bone and periodontal ligament (tissue that makes the connection between the tooth and the bone); having a special focus on Periodontal Diseases: gingivitis and periodontitis, which result from the prolonged accumulation of bacteria in the tissues of the oral cavity.

The first signs of these pathologies are the change in the color of the gum, changing from a pink to red color, its swelling, tendency to bleed and sometimes even some pain.

Over time, these symptoms can worsen to: dislocated gums, appearance of pus between the teeth and gums, tooth mobility, bad breath, bad taste in the mouth and greater tooth sensitivity. If you notice the symptoms mentioned, schedule an appointment and to check the best possible treatment for your condition.

In the first stage of the disease, it is possible to use minimally invasive treatments, which, if the pathology evolves, will be considerably less effective.

Periodontal Disease, even though it affects more than half of the adult population, is still often diagnosed late. This is a bacterial infection whose evolution can lead to gum recession, tooth loss, bone loss, abscesses, spacing between the teeth and periodontal pockets.

In its first phase, which we call Gingivitis, you start to notice some inflammation in the gums, which take on a reddish color, can swell and bleed very easily.

This inflammation is caused by a build-up of plaque, which when built up tends to spread below the gum line and begin to produce irritating toxins. This is the stage we call Periodontitis, in which our body, trying to alleviate the irritation, starts an inflammatory response causing a destruction of tissue and bone that support the teeth.

There starts to be a greater distance between teeth and gums, beginning to form periodontal pockets, where it is very easy for an infection to appear. At this stage, when there is already bone loss, periodontal disease is irreversible, requiring more advanced treatments.

The fact that the initial symptoms are quite mild and common to a large part of the population means that, in many cases, a diagnosis is only achieved at an advanced stage of the pathology. For this reason, we recommend our patients to schedule two Oral Hygiene appointments annually. In Dentistry, prevention is the best medicine!

In a first phase, the treatment of periodontal disease is aimed at eliminating the bacterial plaque and tartar adhered to the tooth surface above and below the gingival line, using scaling and root planing of active bags, or treatments with new technologies Dental Medicine using lazers for better disinfection and healing of affected tissues.

When the pathology is under control, it is important to reinforce good hygiene habits. Toothbrushing twice a day and use of proper elixir to maintain the gums is essential.

In cases where Periodontal Disease is more advanced, when there are deep pockets and bleeding, it may be necessary to resort to periodontal surgery. The roots of the teeth are exposed and a direct root planing is carried out. In this case, it is possible to remodel the supporting tissues and create conditions for the improvement of the alveolar bone and periodontal ligament.

Periodontitis is a chronic disease, which will require medical follow-up throughout life in order to avoid reinfection and the continuous destruction of the tissues that support the teeth.