Periodontics
Can’t accept the fact that you are doomed to lose your teeth in your old age? So you shouldn’t!
Many people believe that tooth loss is something that happens with age, and that there is no other choice but to accept it and get dentures. The fact is that it can be avoided, provided that you start properly caring for your gums early enough, since gum diseases are the main cause of tooth loss in later life.
Periodontal disease is extremely dangerous and affects over 80% of the Slovenian population.
Periodontal disease is an inflammation of the gums, bones, roots and connective tissue attaching the root to the bone. It is also an infection. If bacteria are not completely eliminated with regular oral hygiene, they will start to multiply and release toxins, attacking the body. The body responds with an inflammation. The gums are the first to be affected – the condition is known as gingivitis. This is followed by diseases of other supporting tissues, jointly referred to as periodontal disease. However, the bacteria don’t just cause damage in the mouth. Very soon, their waste products (toxins) as well as the bacteria themselves enter the blood stream and start to poison the entire body. Periodontal disease is a condition that endangers the entire body.
- DIAGNOSTICS
A modern approach makes detecting periodontal disease much easier. It is only once a patient has the right diagnosis that we can provide relevant instructions and prescribe a suitable treatment.
1. Healthy gums / 2.Gingivitis – gum inflammation / 3. Initial form of periodontics / 4. Advanced form of periodontics
2. CLEANING TARTAR
The tartar (mineralised plaque) that builds up above the gum line is removed with an ultrasonic scaler. Tartar usually causes gum inflammation (gingivitis) while also allowing bacteria to accumulate and deposit below the gum line. This creates the conditions for bone inflammation, leading to gingivitis that develops into periodontitis. It is important to come for regular 6-month check-ups, where any tartar will be removed. Today, the procedure is done not only by dentists but also by oral hygienists.
3. CLEANING POCKETS
The bacteria that are not removed in time will start to accumulate below the gum line. When the bacteria are deposited in plaque above the gum level, where they are normally to be found in the mouth, they are mostly aerobic (requiring oxygen). However, once they reach below the gum line, their composition changes dramatically. The advance of periodontal disease continues with highly destructive (pathogenic) bacteria that don’t require oxygen (anaerobic bacteria). The body responds with bone dissolving inflammation.
4. ANTIBACTERIAL POCKET RINSING
After the pockets are cleaned, the areas around and below the gums are rinsed with an antibacterial solution. This way, we can rinse out any remains of the inflammation and infection. The most commonly used solution is a disinfectant TRIO that contains hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine and saline solution. Healing stimulators, usually in the form of hyaluronic acid, can be applied in addition to rinsing and disinfection.
5. LASER TREATMENT
Laser treatment has proved to be highly effective when it comes to treating soft (periodontal) tissues. Photodynamic therapy uses a combination of laser light and a special dye. It is used to continue root planning and scaling, particularly in places where manual planning and scaling is insufficient due to the anatomic properties of the tooth or the depth of the pockets.
6. ANTIBIOTIC or SURGICAL TREATMENT
We tend to avoid the use of antibiotics to the extent that this is possible and permissible. However, it is reasonable to apply them in cases of severe infection and advanced periodontal disease. Local antibiotics are the most effective, acting directly on the area below the gum. Surgical treatment is used in cases when non-invasive and conservative approaches fail to stop the progression of periodontal disease.
7. SUPPORTIVE NUTRITIONAL THERAPY
Tissues in the mouth are renewed seven times faster than any other tissue or organ in the body. This dynamic becomes even more apparent during the recovery period (after the treatment). However, this also means that periodontal tissues have an enormous need for nutrients such as minerals and vitamins. It is essential that oral tissues are in the best shape during the healing stage. This way, their renewal will continue at a fast and predictable rate while also ensuring that they have sufficient powers of defence against new bacteria. Medical Dentistry is the only clinic in Slovenia that uses a TRIO of healing agents as an essential part of treatment, helping to restore the bone and the whole periodontal complex as well as maintaining the periodontal tissues in good condition.