Periodontitis, also known as Pyorrhea. Pyorrhea is a very common periodontal disease that affects gums surrounding the roots of the teeth. It leads to inflammation, irritation, progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and pus in gums further resulting in loosening of teeth. Pyorrhea is the primary cause for tooth loss in adults.
Causes of Pyorrhea:
Periodontitis is caused by bacterial infection. Microorganism adhere to and grow on the tooth's surfaces, along with an over-aggressive immune response against these microorganisms. A diagnosis of periodontitis is established by inspecting the soft gum tissue around the teeth with a probe and by evaluating the patient's x ray films, to determine the amount of bone loss around the teeth.
Symptoms of Pyorrhea:
- Pus oozing from margins of teeth
- Redness or bleeding of gums while brushing teeth,
- Bad breath, and a persistent metallic taste in the mouth
- Swollen and inflamed gums
- Loosened teeth roots.
- Gingival recession, resulting in apparent lengthening of teeth.
- Deep pockets between the teeth and the gums
- Sepsis of digestive tract or liver disorders, if pus persists for a longer time.
Prevention:
Daily oral hygiene measures to prevent periodontal disease include:
- Brushing properly on a regular basis
- Flossing daily and using interdental brushes
- Using an antiseptic Mouthwash
- Regular dental check-ups and professional teeth cleaning as required
Management:
The cornerstone of successful periodontal treatment starts with establishing excellent oral hygiene.
This includes twice - Daily brushing with Daily flossing.
The first step in the treatment – Non surgical scaling and debridement.
Next step – Re-evaluation, if require again scaling and debridement.
In extreme cases – Periodontal Surgery is required to correct the lost bone and later on maintenance phase.