Pyorrhea
Pyorrhoea (also known as periodontitis) is a disease of the periodontium (also called periodontium or periodontal tissue), i.e. the complex of hard and soft structures that offer support to the teeth: gums, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and root cementum.
All these elements contribute together to keep the teeth in the jaws fixed and stable during chewing.
Periodontology is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, medical treatment and also the prevention of periodontal diseases, i.e. gingivitis and pyorrhea. During the dental visit, the specialist examines the gums, checks if a gingival recession has occurred, with a probe checks the periodontal spaces, i.e. the spaces between the tooth and the gum.
Periodontal diseases: gingivitis and periodontitis
Among the diseases treated by periodontology, periodontitis or pyorrhea is certainly the most serious and dangerous because it can easily progress over time and cause serious problems up to causing tooth loss and giving rise to systematic pathologies. This happens because the infection attacks the bone that supports the teeth.
The development of this disease is caused by the proliferation of bacteria inside the mouth due to poor oral hygiene, which initially can cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) which, if not treated in time, can involve the underlying tissues, giving rise to pyorrhea or periodontitis.
The disease can also be caused by an excess of tartar, dental procedures not performed correctly or as a result of other pathologies such as smoking, diabetes, vitamin C deficiencies, etc.
Numerous scientific researches have recently shown that periodontitis can also be due to hereditary factors, especially in its more aggressive forms.
Unfortunately this disease, despite its seriousness, tends to manifest itself with mild symptoms that cause people not to realize they have it.
The most common gum diseases are:
The most common gum diseases are:
- Gingivitis: inflammation of the gum
- Periodontitis or pyorrhea: inflammation of the bone and tooth tissue.
Gingivitis
This disease, the mildest of periodontal diseases, manifests itself with reddening of the edges of the gum, swelling and even bleeding when rubbing the toothbrush. It can occur in a chronic or acute form: in the first case it is due to the plaque that covers the teeth and gums, in the second case to specific infections or traumas.
Gingivitis can be prevented with careful and daily oral hygiene, using a brush and dental floss.
The causes of gingivitis, in addition to poor oral hygiene, are due to smoking, diabetes, a genetic predisposition, aging, drug abuse, some medicines, HIV infection, but also pregnancy and puberty can lead to gingivitis.
Periodontitis or pyorrhea
It is the periodontal disease that affects the alveolar bone and the periodontal ligament. It is a practically painless disease: when gingivitis progresses into periodontitis, there is no pain, the only symptom of the disease is loosening of the teeth.
Neglected gingivitis can lead to periodontitis. The plaque, not removed, increases by infiltrating under the gum. The toxins produced by the bacteria irritate the gums and create an inflammation that undermines the tissues that support the teeth. Periodontal pockets form and become infected, deepening and destroying the gum tissue. The teeth may then become loose and will need to be removed.
Symptoms of periodontal diseases
- Bleeding gums when using a toothbrush
- Redness and swelling of the gums
- Bad breath
- Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
- Teeth loosening
- Pain when chewing
- Plaques and/or pus on the gums
Treatment and therapy of gingivitis and pyorrhea
The cures and treatments for gingivitis and periodontitis depend on the stage of the disease. In the case of early stage gingivitis, it will be sufficient to remove the plaque and ensure daily and thorough oral hygiene.
We intervene with specific non-surgical therapies to control bacterial growth and with surgical therapies to restore the tissue that supports the teeth.
Non-surgical treatments for gingivitis and periodontitis
As we have mentioned, the dentist in the initial stage of the disease will remove plaque and tartar with a complete dental cleaning.
A more thorough cleaning, performed under local anesthesia, of the root surfaces may be required to remove plaque and calculus from deep periodontal pockets.
Surgical treatments for gingivitis and pyorrhea
- Reduction of periodontal pockets: tartar is removed by lifting the gums and then repositioning them adhering to the teeth.
- Bone grafting: fragments of your own bone or synthetic bone or donated bone are used to replace the destroyed one. The graft will allow bone regrowth.
- Soft tissue grafts: it is used to reinforce the gums with a grafted tissue taken from the mouth.
- Guided tissue regeneration: it stimulates the growth of gingival and bone tissue. A piece of tissue is inserted between the bone and the gum allowing the bone and gum tissue to grow back.
- Bone surgery: in case of moderate or advanced bone loss. The bone around the tooth is reshaped to prevent the growth of bacteria.