Periodontitis is a chronic non-infectious disease featured by damage to the periodontium: the tissues around the tooth. It concerns gums, bone tissue and tooth cement. One and foremost function of the periodontium is fixing teeth in the right position while chewing.
In case of periodontitis this function is impaired, and if you do not visit a doctor in time, you may lose your teeth.
What are the causes of periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease occurs as a result of a disruption in the nutrition of periodontal tissues.
The causes of periodontal disease can be the following:
- Hormonal imbalance. Changes in hormonal balance can be observed both in various diseases and in physiological changes in the body. For example, menopause, pregnancy and breastfeeding, aging, puberty.
- Improper nutrition. A lack of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and especially vitamins and minerals in the body can lead to the development of periodontal disease. The disease can also develop in cases ofsufficient nutrients but poor absorbtion by the body.
- Metabolic disorders. Periodontal disease can develop in diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and thyroid disease.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: pancreatitis, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
- Weakened immune system, which can be the result of illnesses or injuries, surgeries, chemotherapy.
- Bad habits: smoking and alcohol abuse.
- Concomitant dental diseases: malocclusion, bruxism, abnormal teeth arrangement.
Periodontal disease can also develop due to poor oral hygiene. This disease can also be hereditary.
The more of the above factors coincide, the greater the risk of developing the disease. Periodontal disease usually develops in adults, but it can also occur in children. The causes may be genetic abnormalities in the development of the dentition, hypovitaminosis and reduced immunity.
Types and stages of periodontal disease
Depending on the extent of the lesion, there are localised and generalised types of periodontal disease.
In localised disease, lesions occur in a specific area of the jaw, and in generalised disease, the entire jaw or even both jaws are involved in the pathological process.
The disease implies the following stages or degrees:
- A mild degree provides a slight detachment of the neck of the tooth and a decrease in the height of the interdental septa. Gums have a normal appearance, although they may be slightly pale. There is no pathological tooth mobility.
- An average degree of periodontal disease causes more pronounced changes. The necks of the teeth become more exposed, and the height of the interdental septa decreases. The gums become dense and pale. Moreover, gaps between the teeth may appear and slight tooth mobility may develop.
- Severe advanced periodontal disease is characterised by serious changes in the gums and teeth. The roots of the teeth are exposed almost completely, there is pronounced tooth mobility, which affects the occlusion and makes it impossible for a person to eat solid food.
In case of secondary infection, inflammation may develop. It refers to purulent periodontal disease. This condition requires emergency medical care.
Symptoms of periodontal disease
The disease is characterised by a gradual increase in severity of symptoms.
In mild cases, symptoms may be completely absent. The only noticeable thing is the exposure of the necks of the teeth.
Further clinic of periodontal disease becomes clearer. Discomfort and pain while eating, increased sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold, and itching in the gum area occur.
With progression of the disease, the interdental spaces increase, the teeth become elongated (due to gum descent and neck exposure), and a wedge-shaped defect appears.
The last stage is featured by the formation of a V-shaped depression in the gum area. If you put off visiting a doctor, the mobility of the teeth will increase, causing them to fall out.
Diagnosis of periodontal disease
Diagnosis begins with anamnesis. The doctor considers the patient’s complaints, the first symptoms, and their relevance.
While oral cavity examining, the dentist pays attention to the condition of the gums and tooth enamel, determines the formation of the occlusion, measures the depth of periodontal pockets (the space between the gums and the tooth root that has formed as a result of the disease), and detects the wedge-shaped defects.
To obtain additional information, an instrumental examination is prescribed, in particular:
- targeted scan of the teeth;
- panoramic image of the teeth;
- echoosteometry (ultrasound examination of bone tissue);
- computed tomography.
Treatment of periodontal disease
Complete cure of periodontal disease may be problematic, especially if the patient delayed dental aid.
In order to restore the normal anatomy of the dentition, a variety of methods can be used, ranging from conservative therapy to surgical intervention.
Medication includes prescription of drugs that improve blood circulation and reduce hypoxia, a pathological condition in which tissues lack oxygen.
The doctor can also apply selective teeth polishing. The essence of this method is to create normal contact between the teeth in the upper and lower jaw (occlusion). With periodontal disease, tooth enamel can accumulate excessive amounts of calcium, which slows down the physiological abrasion of teeth. This can lead to the formation of a malocclusion and a fan-shaped gap in the teeth. To avoid this, the enamel on some teeth is ground down, thereby achieving optimal contact between the upper and lower jaw. To protect the ground teeth from caries and rapid decay, they are coated with a special paste.
Another method is splinting of movable teeth. The purpose of this treatment is to securely fix the teeth, so splinting is performed in the last stages of periodontal disease.
A special dental splint is placed on the dentition from behind, which holds the teeth together in a single block, preventing them from loosening.
In case of periodontal disease, the doctor may also recommend physiotherapy, gum massage, laser treatment, etc.
Furthermore, a patient with periodontal disease should follow the following recommendations:
- careful observance of oral hygiene;
- proper nutrition containing necessary vitamins and minerals, as well as the consumption of a sufficient amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates
- giving up bad habits;
- elimination of all concomitant dental diseases – caries,, gingivitis, pulpitis, etc.
The difference between periodontal disease and periodontitis
Periodontitis and periodontal disease are often confused, however, they are different diseases. What they have in common is that they both affect the gums. However, periodontitis is characterised by inflammation of the gums, while periodontal disease is characterised by atrophy of the jaw.
In periodontal disease, there are usually no obvious signs, while in periodontitis they are pronounced. The initial stage of periodontal disease is accompanied by itchy gums, and periodontitis – by the appearance of tooth sensitivity. Usually, gum bleeding is absent in periodontal disease, while it is a characteristic symptom of periodontitis.
The difference between periodontitis and periodontal disease is that in the first case, the gums pulsate, and in the second case, they become pale.
Unlike periodontitis, periodontal disease is not an inflammatory disease, it is manifested by atrophy of the alveolar processes (tooth cells). Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the periodontal tissues.
However, in both cases, it requires improving oral hygiene, following the dentist’s recommendations and avoiding self-medication.
Why it is important to treat periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is associated not only with a change in the normal anatomy of the dentition, but also with a high risk of complications.
The following diseases can develop without timely treatment:
- periodontal abscess;
- tooth phlegmon;
- osteomyelitis of the jaw;
- malignant neoplasms.
Tooth mobility, pain and hypersensitivity to hot and cold food prevents a person from eating properly, which can lead to developing gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders, endocrine pathology, etc.
Moreover, we should consider psychological disorders and a decrease in the quality of life in general.
All these problems can be avoided if you seek timely qualified dental care.