What is Periodontics?
Periodontics is the speciality of dentistry that studies the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases or anomalies that affect the tissues that support the teeth. The main periodontal diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis.
It is a disease that affects the gums and the rest of the structures that support the teeth. It affects 90% of the population over the age of 35 and is the leading cause of tooth loss in the world's population.
Specialists in periodontitis treatments in Barcelona
Periodontal disease manifests as gingivitis (inflammation and bleeding of the gums without affecting the bone) or periodontitis, where the destruction of the tooth supporting bone occurs. If not treated in time can lead to tooth loss. A periodontal treatment is from the correction of technical hygiene to control bacterial plaque, to the elimination of triggers it (dental calculus or tartar and periodontal pockets).
Do any of these symptoms sounds familiar to you?
Sometimes periodontal disease can progress without any symptoms, pain, or not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. During a regular dental examination, the dentist looks for signs of periodontal disease, so that undetected disease can be treated before it progresses. However, warning signs of periodontal disease include the following:
What is the Periodontal disease?
Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that can affects the gums and bone supporting of one tooth or many teeth.
The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth and causes the gums to become inflamed.
Periodontal disease is often silent, meaning symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease.
Closely linked to periodontics, bleeding gums, inflammation or redness are the main signs of gingivitis. Bleeding usually occurs during toothbrushing but can occur at other times as well.
Healthy gums have a pinkish colour while inflamed gums have a darker reddish colour. Gingivitis is usually painless and the symptoms are not detectable in some cases for a long time.
Symptoms that encompass periodontitis are redness and bleeding of the gums, tooth sensitivity, pain and bad breath but usually do not appear until periodontitis is already advanced.
When the gums become inflamed, between the tooth and the gum, periodontal pockets form where bacteria settle and can cause decay at the root of the tooth. In more advanced stages of periodontitis, the gums may recede leaving larger spaces between the teeth. If the periodontal pocket is very large, part of the root may be exposed, as bacteria will be destroying part of the periodontium and bone tissue.
Within a periondontic treatment we also focus on gum inflammation. The most common cause of gum inflammation is plaque.
Plaque is a thin film composed mainly of bacteria. These bacteria cause inflammation of the gums and the inflammation can cause bleeding. There are different factors that can increase the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis. Poor oral hygiene or smoking increases the likelihood of inflamed gums.
But other factors can also play a role, such as the use of certain drugs that suppress the immune system, viral infections, hormonal changes during pregnancy or diseases such as diabetes. It is necessary to try to eliminate the risk factors or control the symptoms that may appear if it is not possible to suppress these factors in order to improve the treatment of periondontia.
One of the ways to detect gingivitis is by visiting a dental clinic where the existence of periodontal pockets will be checked tooth by tooth. They will also check for the presence of bleeding or gingival recession as well as tooth mobility. Depending on the results of the examination, other techniques will be required, such as X-rays to see if there is bone loss or not.
Gingivitis and Periodontitis
As with many other diseases, the earlier gingivitis and periodontitis (periodontics) are detected, the earlier they can be treated and the better the prognosis. The treatment used is aimed at interrupting the progress of the disease to prevent further damage or loss of teeth.
Oral hygiene will help us to prevent the disease by eliminating bacteria, but also to treat it and prevent it from progressing. If plaque forms below the gums, the dentist must remove it and sometimes surgery is required to clean the surface of the root of the tooth or part of the bone that may have been affected.
Another major issue in periodontology. To prevent gingivitis and periodontitis, we must try to eliminate the formation of plaque, which forms quickly but can be eliminated with good oral hygiene. Otherwise, inflammation of the gums can appear within a few days and plaque can end up forming calculus, supporting bacterial growth.
Therefore, regular brushing and flossing will help prevent plaque formation. To remove any calculus that may have formed, you should visit your dentist for a professional cleaning.
Normally, the signs of periodontal disease do not appear until you reach the age of 30-50 years. The disease appears when there is an accumulation of plaque under the gums and the most obvious symptoms do not appear immediately. For this reason, periodontitis is rarely diagnosed in young people or adolescents. Gingivitis is more common in young people and is the mildest form of gum disease that can progress to periodontitis over time if not treated properly.
The periodontist is the dentist who has specialised in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease (periodontics). He or she will be able to offer different treatment options that may not be available from a dentist.
For more information call or visit our clinic specialising in Periodontics in Barcelona.
Periodontics: Our patients ask
Periodontics is responsible for treating all those diseases that affect the periodontal area of patients. That is, the gum, the bone and the periodontal ligament. Dr. José Nart is one of the most renowned professionals in this field, so if you need a periodontal treatment in Barcelona, at Clínica Dental Nart you will find the best specialist to treat your case.
It is a specialty that affects a large number of patients, but of which, curiously, there is little information about it. It is for this reason that it is appropriate for us to collect some of the most frequently asked questions by our patients.
From the time their first tooth erupts, usually at 6 months. They should be cleaned with a gauze until they are approximately 2-3 years old, when all the primary teeth will be in their mouths. At this age the child can already pick up the toothbrush and, accompanied by his or her hand, brush correctly. At 6 years of age, children should brush their teeth by themselves and then have an adult check them to make sure they are using the right technique and that their teeth are clean. Children should learn from an early age to acquire habits and responsibility for their oral hygiene, and once they have acquired this, they will keep their teeth for the rest of their lives.
