Periodontics

Gum health is as crucial as the health of the teeth themselves.

Poor gum care can lead to conditions such as gingivitis or periodontitis, significantly impacting overall oral health.

If your hands bled when you washed them, you would likely be concerned.

However, many people think it is normal if their gums bleed during tooth brushing or flossing.

This is one of the first signs of infected gums, which are at risk of causing permanent damage.

In severe cases, infected gums can destroy the bone and dental structures, causing the teeth to become loose to the point that they need to be extracted.

What is Periodontics?

Periodontics is the dental specialty that deals with periodontal diseases.

Periodontal or gum diseases are infections that cause damage to the tissues surrounding the teeth.

The most common periodontal diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums due to the accumulation of tartar between the tooth and gum, causing inflammation and bleeding.

If the disease is not diagnosed in time and the infection continues to progress, it can lead to periodontitis.

In this phase, the gums recede and form pockets that can become infected.

This type of injury can damage the bone that supports the tooth and promote its loss.

The treatment of periodontal diseases varies depending on the severity.

In the early stages, a cleaning or scaling can resolve the issue, although in more advanced cases, surgery may be necessary.

Types of Periodontal Diseases (Gums)

Depending on their severity, we can talk about two gum diseases:

• Gingivitis: A bacterial infection that only affects the gums.

  This leads to inflamed and reddened gums.

  In some cases, bleeding may also occur.

  It is a reversible disease, but if left untreated for a long time, gingivitis can degenerate into periodontitis, the chronic and degenerative form of periodontal disease.

• Periodontitis: Destroys all the tissues that support the tooth: gums, bone, and periodontal ligament.

  In this disease, commonly called “pyorrhea,” tissue loss is irreversible and progressive.

  Over time, bacteria create a space between the tooth and the supporting tissues, which specialists call a periodontal pocket.

Gum Surgery in Costa Rica

Depending on the severity of the infection and the amount of bone lost, dentists classify periodontitis as mild, moderate, or severe.

In the latter cases, the infection attacks the root of the teeth, causing mobility or even loss of dental pieces.

Symptoms of Periodontal Diseases

Periodontal diseases are usually asymptomatic in their early stages: they do not hurt, nor do the gums swell.

But if good dental hygiene is not maintained, symptoms will quickly become apparent.

The most common signs are:

• Constant halitosis or bad taste in the mouth.

• Inflammation or redness of the gums.

• Sensitivity or bleeding in the area.

• Pain or discomfort when chewing.

• Movement of teeth to the touch.

• Dental hypersensitivity.

• Receding or separated gums as the infection progresses.

Causes of Periodontal Diseases (Gums)

Periodontal diseases are caused by bacteria found in the mouth.

If these bacteria are not combated or their presence is favored, they can cause gum infections.

The main causes of periodontal diseases are:

• Poor dental hygiene: Neglected or incorrect dental hygiene favors the accumulation of tartar around and beneath the gums.

  If not removed, it can damage the tissue surrounding the tooth, leading to its loss.

• Tobacco or sugary foods: These promote the continuity of bacteria in the mouth that create toxins that irritate and inflame the gums.

• Genetic factors: Some people are more prone than others to suffer from periodontal diseases.

• Pregnancy: During pregnancy, women tend to have more sensitive gums and are more prone to accumulate bacteria that can irritate or inflame the gums.

• Hormonal changes: Sometimes, in girls or women, hormonal changes make them more sensitive to certain periodontal diseases like gingivitis.

• Diseases: Conditions like diabetes, AIDS, or cancer can harm dental health, or the medications used can affect gum health.

Periodontal Treatments in Costa Rica

When a case of periodontal disease is detected in the gingivitis phase, it is much easier to treat.

• Periodontal study: The dentist will assess your case based on radiographs and a thorough examination of your gums, which will be documented in a periodontogram.

• Periodontal treatment: Consists of two phases.

  First, a deep dental cleaning is performed to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and gum line.

  Then, curettages (scaling and root planing) are carried out using a tool called a curette to remove bacterial colonies from the periodontal pockets.

  As this treatment is more invasive, it is generally performed with local anesthesia in two sessions of about 30 to 45 minutes each.

• Reviews and maintenance: Periodontitis is chronic, so you must continue follow-up at the clinic.

  About a month after treatment, you will need to return to check if the treatment has been effective.

  If improvement in your gums is maintained for three more months, you will have two maintenance visits per year.

  In these visits, you will undergo the cleanings and curettages already explained.

How to Prevent Gum Diseases

Preventing periodontal diseases can be summarized as follows:

• Good oral health: Starts with consistent and correct hygiene.

  Over time, tartar accumulates on the teeth if daily cleaning is not performed correctly, making it easy for tartar plaques to form and a simple brushing becomes insufficient.

• Regular visits to the dentist: Allow for the timely detection of any disease and the search for the most appropriate solution.

• Professional cleanings: Not always do we perform cleaning correctly, and complementing it with cleaning by a hygienist will help eliminate tartar plaques that do not disappear with brushing.

• Avoid risk factors: Avoid factors that favor the appearance such as: tobacco, sugary foods, or certain medications.

Specialists in Gum Treatment and Surgery in Costa Rica

If you require a specialist in gum treatment and surgery, you can contact us, and we will be happy to assist you.