PERIODONTICS UNIT

Periodontics is the area of dentistry that is responsible for detecting, measuring and treating the conditions that affect the tissues that surround and fix the tooth, such as the gums, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. The cause of periodontal disease is the bacterial plaque that adheres to the teeth. Correct dental cleaning is essential: brushing should be daily and careful and accompanied by dental floss.

Both gingivitis and periodontitis are infectious conditions that affect the tissues that support the teeth; they are the so-called periodontal diseases. At the Adalia Dental Clinic we have a Periodontal Unit with the most advanced technology to help you prevent this type of disease and make a safe diagnosis.

According to the Spanish National Health Survey, eight out of ten Spaniards over 35 suffer from gum problems. Inflammation and redness of the gums is called gingivitis and can be fought with dental hygiene or disease prevention at your usual dentist. But if the disease progresses, a bacterial infection called periodontitis occurs: a chronic inflammatory infectious disease of the gum and the tissues that support the teeth. This disease can cause more problems than can be seen at first sight.

Gingivitis occurs when the condition affects only the gum, causing an inflammatory process that is still reversible. When gingivitis is not treated in time, there are other factors that can start periodontitis (also called pyorrhea) where, in addition to inflammation of the gum, more serious problems arise as a deep destruction that affects the rest of the tissues of the periodontium.

There are several reasons why a gingivitis may become periodontitis, from genetic factors to alcohol consumption, smoking, excess weight, stress and poor oral hygiene. And if we add to this that with the economic crisis we have experienced a setback in the adoption of preventive measures, we have turned this disease into a silent disease with serious repercussions for oral health and, by extension, for our health in general.

Although there are people with a genetic predisposition to developing the disease, the best way to prevent periodontitis is to maintain proper oral hygiene. This way we can control bacterial plaque. Even so, if you discover some of the usual symptoms of this disease, such as bleeding gums, a bad taste in the mouth, pus, or bad breath or you are part of a high-risk group, don’t get nervous: go to your dentist. With a small probe, your dentist will assess whether the tissues are superficially inflamed or a loss in supporting tissues has already occurred.

The best treatment for your mouth is prevention. Many diseases that affect the health of the mouth can be prevented and most can be treated. Regular visits to the dentist can prevent unnecessary loss of teeth, avoid pain, reduce expenses, preserve oral functions and improve the general state of health.

The consequences of periodontitis in the medium and long term can be devastating. Among the diseases which may worsen, or the risks which may increase, are diabetes, myocardial infarction, premature birth or babies with low weight. Periodontitis is usually associated with bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary abscesses.

The theory is very simple: by swallowing or breathing we transport the bacteria from periodontal disease, spreading our oral problem throughout the body. Also, while we swallow food and saliva we are transporting all the bacteria into our bloodstream. Therefore, what we have is not a specific mouth problem, but rather something we are spreading throughout the body.

Periodontics is the area of dentistry that is responsible for detecting, measuring and treating the conditions that affect the tissues that surround and fix the tooth, such as the gums, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. The cause of periodontal disease is the bacterial plaque that adheres to the teeth. Correct dental cleaning is essential: brushing should be daily and careful and accompanied by dental floss.

Both gingivitis and periodontitis are infectious conditions that affect the tissues that support the teeth; they are the so-called periodontal diseases. At the Adalia Dental Clinic we have a Periodontal Unit with the most advanced technology to help you prevent this type of disease and make a safe diagnosis.

According to the Spanish National Health Survey, eight out of ten Spaniards over 35 suffer from gum problems. Inflammation and redness of the gums is called gingivitis and can be fought with dental hygiene or disease prevention at your usual dentist. But if the disease progresses, a bacterial infection called periodontitis occurs: a chronic inflammatory infectious disease of the gum and the tissues that support the teeth. This disease can cause more problems than can be seen at first sight.

Gingivitis occurs when the condition affects only the gum, causing an inflammatory process that is still reversible. When gingivitis is not treated in time, there are other factors that can start periodontitis (also called pyorrhea) where, in addition to inflammation of the gum, more serious problems arise as a deep destruction that affects the rest of the tissues of the periodontium.

There are several reasons why a gingivitis may become periodontitis, from genetic factors to alcohol consumption, smoking, excess weight, stress and poor oral hygiene. And if we add to this that with the economic crisis we have experienced a setback in the adoption of preventive measures, we have turned this disease into a silent disease with serious repercussions for oral health and, by extension, for our health in general.

Although there are people with a genetic predisposition to developing the disease, the best way to prevent periodontitis is to maintain proper oral hygiene. This way we can control bacterial plaque. Even so, if you discover some of the usual symptoms of this disease, such as bleeding gums, a bad taste in the mouth, pus, or bad breath or you are part of a high-risk group, don’t get nervous: go to your dentist. With a small probe, your dentist will assess whether the tissues are superficially inflamed or a loss in supporting tissues has already occurred.

The best treatment for your mouth is prevention. Many diseases that affect the health of the mouth can be prevented and most can be treated. Regular visits to the dentist can prevent unnecessary loss of teeth, avoid pain, reduce expenses, preserve oral functions and improve the general state of health.

The consequences of periodontitis in the medium and long term can be devastating. Among the diseases which may worsen, or the risks which may increase, are diabetes, myocardial infarction, premature birth or babies with low weight. Periodontitis is usually associated with bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary abscesses.

The theory is very simple: by swallowing or breathing we transport the bacteria from periodontal disease, spreading our oral problem throughout the body. Also, while we swallow food and saliva we are transporting all the bacteria into our bloodstream. Therefore, what we have is not a specific mouth problem, but rather something we are spreading throughout the body.

Periodontitis can be identified by bleeding gums (in smokers this symptom is masked by the effect of tobacco) a bad taste in the mouth or bad breath, redness, pus, receding gums, loose teeth, the appearance of spaces between them or changes in their position, and hypersensitivity to cold or heat.

With so many associated problems, the best way to handle the situation is to conduct a complete periodontal examination (probing and analysis) for each patient, that includes the medical and dental history, x-ray examination and an assessment of the risk factors in order to be able to make a reliable diagnosis and develop an optimal treatment plan. This treatment includes a periodontogram where measurements of the periodontal pockets and their bleeding are made so they can be compared against in future visits.

The probing is carried out with the Florida Probe, obtaining depth measurements at three points for each face of the tooth, which allows us to make a very accurate definition of the periodontal status of each tooth, bone level, measurement of the periodontal pockets, gingival adhesion, location of the plaque, suppuration and level of bleeding. All the information obtained from the patient is downloaded into computer software that can reproduce the results. This allows us to improve the quality of the periodontics service with an audiovisual presentation of the results of the examination. The system software tells us, once the patient’s history has been entered from a previous exploration, the areas of possible activity between the first and the second exploration. In this way, a better diagnosis of periodontal activity can be made, pointing the hygienist towards the areas of greatest risk and, in case of relapse, early detection.

With this method, the explanation to the patient of their periodontal status is more graphic, making it easier for them to understand both their problem and the future treatment, allowing them to easily identify areas that require special attention and understand the quality of their evolution; this will act as an element of motivation to continue their treatment.

Analytical tests allow us to identify the exact genetic predisposition or what strains are the most active in each patient, in order to give a more direct and effective treatment with antibiotics.

And in pregnancy?

In pregnancy there are important hormonal and circulatory changes that are manifested by alterations in the vascularisation of the oral mucous membrane and changes in the pH of saliva, that encourage the appearance of periodontal disease, the proliferation of bacterial plaque, and caries.

It is possible that if the patient is pregnant and suffering from periodontal disease, she may be at risk of giving birth to a premature baby of low weight. For a long time, giving birth to a baby with low weight has been related to many factors, such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs or infections.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), there are two myths regarding pregnancy and oral health: the loss of teeth as a result of pregnancy and the obtaining of calcium from the teeth if the diet is insufficient in calcium.

Therefore, special attention should be paid to the care of teeth and gums with regular visits to the dentist, especially in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, to control gingivitis. This will contribute to the healthy development of the baby. Up to 70% of pregnant women suffer from some form of gingival disease.