25 May

Missing teeth: periodontitis

Severe periodontal diseases are one of the main causes of tooth loss. All of these conditions affect the gums in different ways, causing other related problems such as bleeding or bad breath. Around 15–20% of middle-aged adults (35–44 years) have some form of periodontal disease, which can mean that by the age of 65 to 74 more than half of their teeth are no longer natural.

The main periodontal diseases are:

Gingivitis: inflammation and bleeding of the gums caused by bacteria within them. This disease does not reach the bone. It is not usually painful at first, but if left untreated it can turn into periodontitis.

Periodontitis: destruction of the bone that supports the tooth, caused by bacteria building up inside the gum and going untreated. This disease can make teeth loose and cause them to be lost within a short time.

If a patient diagnosed with periodontal disease does not have their gums treated and does not take good care of their oral health, plaque and bacteria will attack the tissues that hold the tooth in place. As the disease progresses, the gum will begin to pull away from the tooth, leaving it increasingly exposed until it becomes loose. Other symptoms include swollen gums, bad breath, sensitivity to cold and heat, and difficulty chewing.

Eventually, a gum with periodontitis will push the tooth out, since there will be no tissue left connecting them. Before reaching this point, it is important to be aware of the disease and treat it properly. Otherwise, the most feasible solution is to replace the teeth with dental implants to make chewing easier and improve the patient’s appearance.

Periodontal patients should be aware of how important it is to have a healthy, clean mouth, which will keep them from losing their teeth and help prevent other conditions such as cardiovascular disease

Stages of periodontitis treatment:

• Book an appointment with the specialist: at Clínica Dental Fernando Soria, we consider periodontics one of the cornerstones of our treatments, which is why we have a specialist who carries out the diagnosis and treatment.
• Scaling and root planing: the specialist deep-cleans the gums and the roots of the teeth, leaving both free of bacteria.
• Check-up after one month: it is very important to come back one month after treatment, since that is when control of the disease begins. Attending the check-ups set by the specialist helps keep it under control and avoid more aggressive treatments.
• Assessment of lost teeth: if the patient is at an advanced stage of the disease, the specialist will propose replacing the missing teeth with dental implants. The aim is for the patient to be able to eat normally again while also improving their appearance.

Tooth loss
Some patients feel that a little bleeding is not reason enough to see the dentist; however, a yearly visit would prevent unpleasant surprises. In cases where the disease has progressed unchecked and implant treatment is needed, it can be done as long as the gums have been properly disinfected. Diseased gums can cause the same problems again around an implant and, as a result, lead to its loss.

If you have noticed any of the symptoms described above in recent months, book an appointment with our specialists and don’t let periodontal disease keep progressing unchecked. In a short check-up, and thanks to the most advanced diagnostic technology, we can give you a prognosis on the health of your gums.