What is Periodontal Medicine?

According to Dr. Matthews, Assistant Professor and Head of the Division of Peridontics, Faculty of Dentistry Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia."The rationale for treating periodontal diseases is to preserve the structure, function and esthetics of the dentition. In fact such treatment may be just as important in terms of preventing unto-wards affects on a patient's over all health."This is the basis of Periodontal Medicine.

In July 1998, The American Academy of Periodontology brought awareness and education to the public of the fact that: Infections in the mouth can cause health problems in other parts of the body. Periodontal disease has been linked to diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, preterm births, stroke and respiratory disease.

CAUSES OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Bacterial plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease.

This is a sticky colorless film that forms on your teeth.Normally this plaque can be removed by brushing and flossing.

However, when it is not removed within three days, this soft bacterial plaque hardens to a substance called tartar or calculus. It becomes very difficult to remove by brushing and flossing and proceeds to erode the roots of the teeth.

Normally your bone and gum tissue fit snug to the teeth. In periodontal disease swelling and bleeding of the gums occur, leading to bone loss, gum pockets or spaces between the teeth. The gum pockets gets deeper, bacteria burrows deeper into the gum tissue, infection occurs and ultimately loss of tooth.

SOME OTHER FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Smoking

Some medications

Genetics

Poor dental hygiene

Poor nutrition

Age

Stress

A depressed immune and inflammatory system.

SMOKING

Smokers tend to have plaque. Plaque can only be removed during a professional cleaning of the pockets between your teeth and gums.

Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 20 % of 65 years and older who have never smoked, have lost all their teeth, while 41.3% of 65 years old and older who have smoked are toothless.

Research also shows that smokers don't heal as well after treatment as non smokers. However, smokers that stop smoking before periodontal treatment have good results.

MEDICATIONS

There is a relationship between periodontal disease and the following medications.

Oral contraceptives

Hormones

Blood pressure medicines.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, studies reveal that:

Older people have the highest rate of periodontal disease.

At least half of non-institutionalized people over age 55 have periodontitis.

One out of four people age 65 and older have lost all of their teeth.

Receding gum tissue affects the majority of older adults.

TREATMENT OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

A Periodontist will recommend and prescribe

Deep cleaning

Oral antibiotic like Periostat.

PerioChip, an antibiotic solution inserted directly into the spaces between the tooth and gum.

Daily brushing and flossing of your teeth.

Regular dental visits every 3 - 4 months.

Changing tooth brushes every 3 months.

DID YOU KNOW?

Dental floss was manufactured in 1882 and it was made out of silk.

Probing is a method used to determine the depth of the space between the teeth and the gum.

1-2 millimeter space with no bleeding is considered healthy and normal.

3-4 millimeter space with bleeding will need scaling and root planning.

5 millimeter space and up will need surgical treatment to restore lost bone.

Perioscopy is a new periodontic procedure that uses a small camera, the size of a pinhead

which will reveal the plaque inside a gum pocket. The plaque is removed with small instruments therefore eliminating the need for surgery.

Periodontal Medicine and proper periodontal care play an important role in preserving the function, structure and esthetics of your dentition along with preventing onto-ward effects on your overall health.