Periodontitis is a form of gum disease that destroys the ligaments and bone that hold your teeth in the jaw.
It is a “quiet” disease that you may not know you have unless your dentist examines you very carefully.
It presents with some or all of the following features:
Many studies show that severe periodontitis only affects about 10% of the adult population, but it can start in your teenage years. There is also a very aggressive form of the disease which affects between 0.1% (Caucasians) and 2% (Afrocaribbeans) of younger patients.
Historically, it was believed that the accumulation of plaque (due to poor oral hygiene) was sufficient to initiate periodontitis in all individuals. However, research shows that 10% of people are resistant to getting periodontitis even if their oral hygiene is poor. 10% are highly susceptible and will develop disease even with quite good oral hygiene and most of the remainder will develop the disease eventually (by 65 years-of-age) if they have average oral hygiene.
Susceptible patients develop the disease because their immune system over-reacts to the presence of plaque at the gum margin and especially between the teeth. These patients are “at risk” of early tooth loss because they possess, or have been exposed to “risk factors”.
Risk factors are circumstances that increase your chances of getting the disease; they do not necessarily cause the disease. The following are the main risk factors:
Genetics Studies of twins have taught us that about 50% of periodontitis is due to your genetic make up and you cannot change this. In these patients it is vital they have meticulous oral hygiene.
Periodontitis cannot be cured, but it can be stopped and held at bay so that you keep your teeth for much longer, if not for life. The most important thing you can do is to learn how to achieve the highest standard of oral hygiene possible. Like diabetes, patients have to monitor their blood glucose levels and be careful with their diet, you have to monitor your plaque levels and be careful with your oral hygiene.
No matter what we do for you, unless you are cleaning meticulously and conscientiously on a daily basis at home, our treatment will fail.
If you feel you need help with any of the above issues, please inform our reception team and we will be happy to see you for a consultation and recommend a customised plan to help control your gum disease.
For advice on what your role is, in managing your periodontitis, please ask for a separate leaflet.
It is also recommended that you get your family members, including parents, siblings and/or children to see a dentist regularly and to detect gum disease early.
Your gums are like cushions for your teeth; they surround the tooth from its crown to its root in the jaw and help to support a healthy mouth. Looking after your gums is just as important as looking after your teeth, and without routine cleaning gum disease can occur. These are the stages of gum disease:
Fortunately, this can be avoided by attending regular hygiene check-ups at the practice and maintaining a good daily hygiene routine. Brushing between the teeth, flossing and replacing your toothbrush every three months will also benefit your gum health.
Do you feel a shooting pain in your teeth when eating or drinking something hot? Does the thought of biting into an ice cream or a cold, hard apple make you wince? Sensitive teeth can be a burden for many people and can be caused by a variety of factors. It is always important to seek advice from a dental professional so that the source of the problem can be identified and treated. There are several causes of sensitivity:
For top tips on protecting your enamel and for effective treatment of tooth sensitivity, come to the practice for a check-up and we will create an individualised care plan for you.
As dental professionals we believe in preventative dental care and encourage our patients to bring their children to the practice from an early age. Regular check-ups from a young age will ensure children don’t suffer from untreated dental decay with devastating effects to their growing dentition. There are a number of preventative treatments that our team can provide for children:
Prevention is always better than cure, so call the practice today to make an appointment for your child.
Gingival (gum) recession is not uncommon and can occur suddenly in isolated sites in healthy mouths OR as a consequence of gum disease.
It can be scary and occasionally painful to have receding gums, but you don’t need to worry. There are several steps you can take at home that may serve as effective treatment for receding gums, depending on the severity of the problem.
In most cases, a number of the above factors work in combination to cause the recession.
There are a number of different treatment modalities, depending on the cause and symptoms experienced.
We recommend you see our Periodontist (gum specialist) for a consultation to provide you with the advice needed for prevention and management of the recession.
Taking care of your oral health is very important. Your mouth is a great indicator of your general wellness, and an oral infection can affect your whole body. Be gentle with your teeth, and see our periodontist if you have any persistent discomfort.
Periodontal Regenerative Surgery (bone grafting in gum disease)
A bone graft is used to recreate bone and soft supporting tissues lost due to gum disease. It’s also called regenerative surgery.
Regenerative surgery is a treatment for the gum disease. People with periodontitis lose gum coverage and bone support around their teeth.
Regenerative surgery can be used in certain types of defects to regrow the lost tissues. This usually involved a minor surgical procedure under local anesthesia to achieve the end result.
Before your surgery, you need to have basic periodontal treatment called scaling and root planing. You also must be taking good care of your teeth. You should brush twice a day and floss daily. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area for surgery. During the next six to nine months, your body fills in the area with new bone and soft tissue. In effect, this reattaches the tooth to your jaw.
The goal of this surgery is to coax the body into rebuilding the bone and other structures that attach a tooth to the jaw. The holes (defects) in the bone will be filled in with a graft material. Then they will be covered with a physical barrier.
Barriers are used to cover the grafting material in the early stages of healing. They also prevent the gums from growing into the bony defect. Barriers are made from human skin, cow / pig skin or synthetic materials.
The choice of materials can be discussed with the periodontist (gum specialist) and if you have specific preferences / restrictions on types of materials used, there are always alternatives.
We recommend you discuss this with our Periodontist during your consultation.
An alveolar ridge augmentation after tooth extraction, or “ridge augmentation,” involves placing Bone Graft material directly into the empty socket where a tooth’s roots used to be, to help create the natural shape of the gums and jaw that may have been lost following tooth extraction.
Patients usually need a ridge augmentation procedure after losing one or more teeth, to prepare for future dental restorations or placement of dental implants.
A sinus lift (sinus augmentation) is surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars. If you’ve lost bone in that area due to reasons such as periodontal disease or tooth loss, you may be left without enough bone to place implants.
Sinus lift surgery can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants. A CT scan is usually required in the planning stages of the surgery.
The bone is added between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses. Undergoing sinus lift surgery has been shown to greatly increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come.
The procedure can be carried out in most cases under local anaesthsia. Alternatively oral or intravenous sedation may also be considered if you are anxious about this procedure. The periodontist in our practice can explain your options for graft materials, which can regenerate the lost bone and tissue.
In the upper jaw, near the premolars and molar teeth, the sinuses may enlarge and reduce the amount of bone available to place implants.
Sinus augmentation procedures are done either
UL3 distal Combinatiom Regeneration with Bio-Oss and Emdogain at 2 years follow up. Radiograph shows complete bone infill; no periodontal pockets pockets >3mm.
