Gum Disease
Periodontal diseases may result in gingival recession and loss of jawbone.
If the dentist tells you that "you have periodontal disease," do not worry. Nowadays, most of adults have different forms of periodontal diseases. The form which cause bone loss is called periodontitis. Along with bone loss, the dental support is reduced and the tooth becomes loose in time. Along with the increase in loosening, the teeth may need to be extracted. The stage of loosened teeth is irreversible.
Except for some special cases, loosening of teeth cannot be recovered with any treatment. Periodontal treatment is implemented not to stop the ongoing process of the loosened teeth but to keep the teeth which have not come this stage in the mouth for a longer time and prolong their life. The treatment of gingival diseases is performed by periodontists. The most important factor for determining whether your gingiva disease stops, slows down, gets worse is your daily tooth-brushing and oral care habits. Neither mouthwash nor nutrition, nor toothpaste is more important than the style and frequency of daily tooth brushing in healing of your gingival disease.
What is the cause of gingival disease?
There are millions of bacteria in oral cavity. Along with saliva, oral fluids and particles these bacteria form a sticky white to yellowish layer of plaque on a tooth surface. This layer is called dental plaque. This layer is removed from teeth by brushing and cleaning the interfaces (dental floss, interface brush). The unclean plaque gets hard and forms tartar over time. Removal of tartar and stains on tooth surface can only be achieved by the dentist in a clinical setting.
What is gingivitis?
Gingiva means gum in Latin. Inflammation of gingiva is called gingivitis. As the tartar and white plaque which already covered a tooth surface stays on a tooth for longer time, the inflammation of gingiva also spreads and increases.
What are the symptoms of gingivitis?
The symptoms of gingivitis are reddened, swollen, easily bleeding gingiva when touched or brushed.
How is gingivitis treated?
Among periodontal diseases, gingivitis is the disease which has the mildest outcomes. Gingivitis does not cause bone loss. Complete reversion to back is enabled with proper daily dental and gingival care and regular dental control.
What is periodontitis?
When gingivitis is not treated, it may turn into periodontitis which is a more serious disease. In case of periodontitis, infected spaces that are called as "pocket" are formed between teeth and gingiva. As a result of the "war" between bacterial toxins and body enzymes that fight against infection, the bones which hold tooth in the mouth undergo resorption (bone loss).
What happens if periodontitis is not treated?
When periodontitis is not treated, as a result of the damages that occur in gingiva and bone, the teeth are either lost by themselves or it becomes obligatory to extract them due to excessive loosening.
Does periodontal disease affect other body organs?
In addition to the threats that are posed by periodontal diseases to oral health, it was also observed that it poses risks in terms of affecting other systems and organs of the body. Diabetes and cardiac diseases are the first to mention.
What is gingival recession?
Gingival recession is not a disease but a condition that emerges. Gingival recession is a common situation in society. The incidence increases with age.
What are the causes of gingival recession?
The most common causes of gingival recession are indicated to be brushing trauma and periodontal disease.
What are the symptoms of gingival recession?
The most common symptoms are exposed root and dentin sensitivity (tenderness), root decays and aesthetic complaints.
What is the treatment of gingival recession?
The treatment of gingival recession requires a detailed patient evaluation by identifying the main factor that causes recession and recording the size of recession. The main purpose of the treatment is to prevent further progression of recession and to control the symptoms. Furthermore, considering the aesthetic concerns of patients, it is aimed to cover the exposed root surfaces by performing periodontal operation with correct indications. Many different techniques have been developed to cover the root surfaces.