Periodontitis

Any disease affecting the periodontium is known as periodontal disease. Periodontitis is the condition where the inflammation of the bone happens.

The gum inflammation is normally known as gingivitis. The gingivitis in an advanced and progressive stage is known as periodontitis. In this condition the bones which balance the teeth are affected and destroyed. The gums start recession at this stage in turn leading to the exposure of the root surfaces. This in turn can lead to an increase in the sensitivity of the teeth towards cold as well as heat. One may even lose teeth because of the bones getting destroyed.

Causes

A variety of causes contribute to this condition. A person who suffers from Scurvy, which occurs as a result of deficiency of Vitamin C in the body can result in the gums developing bleeding and becoming spongy. This in turn will result in a person loosing his teeth. A very rare but very critical condition known as juvenile periodontitis is inheritable in nature.

Most of the people who have gingivitis have higher chances of developing periodontitis. The supragingival plaque which affects the area above gum line results in the area develops swelling as the plaque covers the complete area. The bacteria which are found in the plaque proliferate and reproduce under anaerobic conditions. The toxins which are secreted by these bacteria of the plaque can cause severe injuries to the tissues of the gum. This in turn will cause in the development of an inflammatory response which is very serious in nature as the body become autoimmune. The periodontal ligament as well as the bones present in socket of the teeth will be broken completely. This will result in the destruction of periodontal ligament and the socket bones.

Symptoms

The presence of periodontitis is identified by the presence of gums that bleed while one brushes the teeth, gums becoming swollen and tender, gums become red in colour, gums pulling away from teeth, presence of a constant breath which smells bad, presence of pus in between the gums and teeth, teeth becoming loose or separated, fitting together of the teeth while the person bites something will be in a different way, fitting of the partial dentures will be changed.

Diagnosis

The presence of periodontitis is detected by taking X-rays and detailed examination of the firmness and colour of the gums. Periodontal probing is preferred for the diagnosis of periodontitis.

Treatment

The treatment of periodontitis in its early stages is done by planning the roots and performing curettage of the margins of the gums. This is done by removing plaque and soft tissues surrounding the teeth sockets that have developed inflammation.

The aim of curetting is the removal of the colonies of bacteria. Curetting also helps in the removal of any chemical or mechanical irritants which may lead to inflammation of the gums.

In advanced cases, once the plaques are removed, the deep pockets which are present will be removed via a minor surgery known as the gingivectomy. A person undergoes gingivectomy only under local anesthesia. Then the place where the surgical wound is there will be covered using the medicinal dressing for about one week.