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About GUM
Your dentist or periodontist has recently informed you that you have periodontal disease, and you probably have some questions about this pathology and treatment options. The following may provide you with some answers relevant to these issues. These answers will enable you to understand what is being planned by your dental care professional and enable you to actively participate in your health care decisions.
WHAT ARE PERIODONTAL DISEASES?
The word “periodontal” literally means “around the tooth”. Periodontal diseases are chronic microbial gum infections that destroy the attachment of the root to the bone and the supporting bone that holds teeth in the jaws.
The main cause of these diseases is bacterial plaque, a very sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on the teeth. The body response to this plaque determines how severe and how fast is disease progression.
Daily oral hygiene measures are crucial to prevent plaque buildup. If plaque is not removed, it can turn into a hard substance called tartar (calculus). Calculus attachment to the tooth is so hard that it can only be removed during professional cleaning. |
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If calculus develops underneath the gums onto the root (the part of a tooth that is held inside the bone and gums), bacteria and toxins (or poisons) produced by these bacteria can initiate an inflammatory process that can cause the gums to separate from the teeth forming pockets. Some patients have an overreacting immune response which can cause further damage. In some other cases, the damage is limited to the gums (gingivitis) and does not involve bone |
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| Gingivitis (superficial gum inflammation) with red gum margins. |
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| As the disease progress, pockets deepen providing a more suitable environment for bacteria to live, and more bone is destroyed |
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Gums are inflamed between the 2 teeth.
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The gums have been folded back showing calculus evident on the root surface with bone loss. |
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The teeth eventually become loose or change position.
Recent data tend to link periodontal diseases to general health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, and preterm low birthweight babies. |
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Patient with periodontal disease showing red inflamed gingival, plaque, and tooth migration. |
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PERIODONTAL EXAMINATION
A full comprehensive periodontal examination has to be performed by the dentist or periodontist and include a clinical examination (pocket depths, level of mobility, gum recession, etc.) and radiographic analysis (X-Rays) (to evaluate the nature, distribution and severity of bone loss, etc.). This has to be completed with an evaluation of several factors that might contribute to periodontal diseases, such a smoking, pregnancy and
puberty, stress, medications, clenching or grinding the teeth, diabetes, and other general conditions. |
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