Dentalnews (en)

There are still dental professionals who use the old and wrong name for a periodontal disease – parodontosis. The correct name is periodontitis.

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In former times bacteria couldn´t be proven because of wrong techniques-this was called parodontosis. In the last 25 years it is known that inflammation of the periodontum is caused by bacteria, and the proper name is periodontitis.
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Periodontitis therapy starts with the right diagnosis: periodontitis is not treatable! It doesn´t matter whether it is an agressive or chronic periodontitis.
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First the dentist collects all the data, then an initial therapy takes place. After 8 weeks new results will be ascertained and the final thearpy will be set. More on this in the video periodontitis!
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It is wrong to choose one of the following for an initial therapy; however they might be beneficial in the later maintenance phase.

• laser
• saliva test
• antibiotics

Gums as a reflection of our overall health?

YES AND NO!

Over and over again we read scientific and non scientific journals about vitamin deficiency and the consequences from it. As a result many people choose to take homeopathic medicine –a mistake most of the time!

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99% of gum diseases are attributed to plaque and not to a vitamin deficiency -in industrial countries!
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The hormonal changes in women, for example, lead to problems, which can affect their gingival health. Please, ignore this factor if your oral hygiene is good. 

If untreated, gum diseases often lead to periodontitis – a local chronic inflammation, that has a negative effect on the whole body.

The glucose monitoring in diabetics can lead to problems. Periodontitis is linked to joint inflammations, premature baby births, arteriosclerosis/cardiovascular diseases.

Patients, who have predisposition to thrombosis, may have higher risk for bacterial aggravation, and consequently, inflammation.

 Patients who tend to thrombosis may have a higher risk on a bacteria aggravation and consequently inflammation.

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Most common reasons for periodontitis

The most common reasons of pariodontitis are:

• Plaque accumulation due to poor oral hygiene, overhang restorations, ill fitting crowns
• Malocclusion
• Stress     
• Smoking
• Systemic disease such as diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes

Fortunately all these factors are easily controlled by;

• Optimizing tooth brushing, by starting at the back on the difficult accessible teeth.
• using an oral rinse
• using plaque tablets
• correction of crowding by getting braces
• Regular visitations to your dentist!  
• Removing interdental plaque by flossing or using proxy brush?

 Is an oral rinse beneficial for patients with periodontitis?

YES!

An oral rinse is a useful purchase, unfortunately some doctors think it is not useful-with the argument that bacteria leaks into the periodontal pockets. That is incorrect for two main reasons;

1. The bacteria moves only due to extensions
2. Bacteria are harmless on their own. They are destructive only in mature plaque, causing a cavity or a periodontal disease. 

The brushing removes the plaque accumulation above the gumline only, and the use of oral rinses can boost the effectiveness of brushing and flossing, after irrigating the sulcus.

The first days following the use of oral rinse patient’s gums can hurt and bleed easily but the recommendation is to continue the use of it. The bleeding and the pain are signs of gingival inflammation. Oral rinses are beneficial in the fight for reducing the inflammation and the bleeding. 

Due to the inflammation of the gums patient’s teeth seem shorter?  But once the inflammation is under control the swelling will subside and the gingiva will return to normal firm consistency and pink color.

Periodontitis-saliva test?

Yes and no!

Our last discussion was about lasers, today we want to inform you about the saliva test.

It is a common practice for some dental professionals to require that the patients with periodontal disease to undergo expensive saliva test prior to their therapy.   

Congratulations! Now the patient knows that there is bacteria present in their mouth!

If bacteria weren’t present, the patient wouldn’t have periodontitis. The question is – what is the benefit of this costly procedure?

However, the saliva test could/should be used if the periodontal therapy was unsuccessful in order to narrow down the exact pathogenic bacteria and to provide the appropriate treatment. 

A devoted periodontists should consider that.