What is Gum Disease (gingivitis)?
- Gingivitis is an inflammatory response of the gums without destruction of the supporting tissues
What are the Clinical Signs?
- Gingival redness, Glossy surface, loss of stippling,spongy, loss of tone, bleeding, sensitivity, inflammation
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What is Periodontitis?
- Periodontitis results from the apical extension of gingival inflammation to involve the supporting tissues. This results in the destruction of fiber attachment in the periodontal pocket.
What are the Clinical Signs?
- Recession, Loss of attachment, Tooth mobility/migration, Loss of function, bad breath, sensitivity, pain
What are the Dental Symptoms?
- Bleeding, Pain, Mobility, Swelling, Recession, Bad Breath
Risk Factors
- Calculus, Restorations, Morphology, Food packing, Mucogingival factors
- Restoration Margins, Badly designed dentures, Ortho, Malalignement of teeth, Lack of lip seal, Smoking, Development defects, Occlusal factors
- Age, Race, Gender, Oral hygiene, lack of regular check ups, bony defects
How Does The Dentist Evaluate The Gums?
- Oral Hygiene
- Gingival condition, Pocket depths around the tooth, Attachment levels, Recession
- Furcation, Mobility
Systemic Factors Influencing The Gums
- Hormonal
- Diabetis
- Reduced salivary flow
- Haematological
- Leukemia
- Genetic Conditions
- Hereditary
- Smoking
- Nutritional Deficiency
- Drugs (Medications)
- Habits
How Does The Dentist Diagnose Gum Disease?
The Dentist will evaluate and preform various special tests, this allows for a diagnosis of gum disease.
- Clinical probing – A deeper pocket around the tooth is less ideal
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Bleeding – Absence better than presence
- Plaque – The less plaque the better
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Suppuration (pus) – Absence better than presence
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Gingival redness- Absence better than presence
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Gingival Crevicular fluid
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Tooth mobility -Absence better than presence
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Radiograph – Less bone around to support the teeth -> worse prognosis
Treatment
Dental treatment of gum disease would involve the following:
- Careful diagnosis
- Scale and clean
- Elimination or suppression of bacteria
- Oral hygiene instruction
Prognosis
The prognosis of gum disease involves the following:
- Type, age, systemic background, malocclusion, smoking, patient, oral habits, family history of periodontal disease
Maintenance
- Preservation of periodontal bone support
- Maintenance of stable clinical attachment level
- Control of inflammation
- Re-evaluation and reinforcement of proper home care
- Maintenance of a healthy and functional oral environment
If you wish for more information on Gum Disease or have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact Skygate Dental today on (07) 3114 1199 or 0406 579 197.