Periodontitis is periodontal disease, it affected 80% of the adult population. Periodontal disease is the main cause of tooth loss.
What is periodontitis?
- It is the medical term for « receding gums ».
- It is always preceded by gingivitis.
- By defending itself against an accumulation of dental plaque under the gum, the body destroys the deep periodontium.
- A periodontal pocket is formed. The depth of the pocket, and consequently the degree of severity of the problem, can be measured in the course of charting.
- This pocket forms under the gum and is therefore not visible.
How do I know if I have periodontitis?
The clinical symptoms of periodontitis are:
- A red and swollen gum
- Bleeding on brushing the teeth.
- Bad breath.
- Sensitivity to cold, discomfort.
- Looseness and movement of the teeth (front teeth that separate).
For info
- The molars have several roots which meet in an area called a furcation. When a periodontal pocket occurs in this area, treatment becomes complicated as disinfection is hard due to difficulty in accessing the area.
- The periodontal pockets develop mainly between the teeth because more plaque tends to accumulate in this area.
Remember
To prevent periodontitis, when you brush your teeth, lightly brush your gums as well by moving from the gum in the direction of the tooth, in order to prevent the formation of tartar on the gum.
To prevent periodontitis, it is very important that in addition to brushing your teeth you also use dental floss and interdental brushes at least once a day.
The result of periodontal treatment depends very much on patient motivation and dental hygiene.
Don’t hesitate to ask our surgeon-dentist specialized in periodontics.