Gum conditions

Your dentist – happy to help with your oral health

Periodontology is the treatment of all the tissue that surrounds the tooth. This word comes from the Greek “peri” (around) and “odontos” (tooth). Accordingly, periodontology focuses on the gums first of all, then the ligament that connects the tooth to the bone and, finally, the alveolar bone on the surface of the jawbone itself.

Healthy gums are easy to diagnose:

• Gums are light pink
• Gums don’t bleed
• Gums adhere to the teeth, offering perfect protection for the bone
• Non-motile bacteria are found under the microscope.

Throughout the day, numerous kinds of bacteria found in the saliva attach rapidly to the teeth, multiply and produce a gel: dental plaque. When the gums come into contact with dental plaque, the body activates an inflammatory response, causing them to swell and turn red. Bleeding gums when teeth are brushed is a sign of gingivitis.

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It’s totally reversible and only the gums are affected.

They start bleeding when the teeth are brushed.

Without rapid treatment, gingivitis will turn into periodontitis, from mild to severe: bacteria from dental plaque will gradually work their way in between teeth and gums, thereby increasing inflammation. This inflammation reaches the bone that supports the teeth and causes progressive resorption. Periodontitis is more commonly known as receding gums, as these are one of the first possible and visible effects of this bacterial disease. If the condition is not treated or detected at a mild stage and if it reaches severe levels, it can result in tooth loss and, ultimately, problems chewing.

Treatment of periodontitis is key to health. As a matter of fact, there is a link between periodontal health and general health, which is why preventative measures by the dental hygienist, a specialist in diagnostics in this area, are so important.

Tobacco use is the biggest risk factor for developing gum disease. Treating periodontitis requires several simultaneous measures on different levels:

• Immediately stabilising the gingivitis issue by having dental plaque and tartar removed by the hygienist
• Dental hygiene and dietary advice provided by the hygienist
the establishment
• of a treatment plan by the dentist to save and heal the damaged tissue
• The implementation of professional long-term dental hygiene monitoring to resolve the situation in a sustainable way.

The best way to draw up a treatment plan for periodontitis is to objectively measure, on the one hand, the initial situation and its evolution, and, on the other, the effects produced by treatment. Treatment usually follows this timeline:

• X-rays (local or full)
• Initial objective evaluation by taking a gum sample
• Tailored treatment stage (from a simple deep scaling to full gum surgery, quadrant by quadrant)
• Potential use of local antibiotics
• Post-treatment check-up
• Professional periodontal follow-up by hygienist, with diminishing frequency over time
• Objective evaluation of treatment and follow-up over time by taking a gum sample