Periodontal disease is a dental condition which affects the gums and teeth. Read on to learn more about it.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of periodontal disease include bleeding, swollen and extremely tender gums, as well as chronic bad breath which cannot be remedied by brushing or flossing more frequently. As the disease progresses, sufferers may also notice that their gums start to recede and that, as a result of this, their teeth begin to shift, loosen or even fall out of their sockets.
Health risks associated with this disease
Periodontal disease can have a serious impact on a person's health if it is not treated promptly. In addition to eventually causing tooth loss, this condition can also significantly increase a person's chances of developing cardiovascular disease.
Whilst the exact reason for this connection not yet known, many dentists theorise that this increased risk can be explained by the fact that harmful bacteria inside a person's mouth may enter their bloodstream via their bleeding gums. The bacteria may then travel towards the heart and inflict damage on this muscle.
Treatment options
The way in which periodontal disease is treated depends on what stage it has reached. If it has been identified at an early stage, then the sufferer can usually resolve the condition simply by going for regular scale-and-polishes at their dentist's office, improving their at-home oral hygiene routine and using a medicated mouthwash.
However, if the condition is only diagnosed after it has reached an advanced stage, the person may need to undergo more complex treatments to halt the progress of the disease. In this situation, their dentist may need to perform a treatment called 'root planing' (where the area underneath the gum line is deep-cleaned), and have a gum graft, to repair any eroded areas of their gums and thus prevent their teeth from falling out.
If the disease goes untreated for many years and as a result of this, some the person's teeth have already fallen out, they will not only need to have the aforementioned root planing and gum grafts to keep their existing teeth in good condition but will also need to have their dentist fit either dentures or dental implants, to replace their lost teeth.
Replacing their missing teeth will not only improve the appearance of their mouth but will also help to restore normal oral function; it will, for example, enable them to speak clearly again (as people with missing teeth often have a slight lisp when they talk) and make it easier for them to chew their food properly.
Share26 April 2018
Miranda Raff here. My brother is a stressed-out dental student, so I'm starting this blog on his behalf. I work in a travel agency and my brother is mortified by the number of dental tourism stories I bring home. I book short holidays for people who seem as though they are going to enjoy some relaxation in an exotic country, only to learn that they plan to have cheap dental procedures. Whilst there are good dentists in developing countries, according to my brother, the complex procedures these people plan to have simply can't be finished in such a limited time. This blog is an attempt to inform you about the high skill levels and advanced technology found in Australian dental surgeries. New techniques are being developed every year and Australian dentists are at the forefront of offering these solutions. I really hope this blog helps you to appreciate our dentists.
