Periodontology is the dental-related science on treatment of gingival inflammation and periodontal disease.
Periodontal tissue is an organ that acts like wrapping cover of and holding of teeth root, consisting of:
Gums are organs that cover and protect the bones and teeth, with periodontal ligament holding the tooth root with the bones.
Gum edge around the tooth’s neck is thin, smooth, and pale pink color with no ligament holding the tooth surface but having grooves between gums and teeth, about 2-3 millimeter deep, and the gums around here are called ‘Free Gingiva’.
The lower gum around the tooth’s neck, about 3 millimeter, holding the bone is called ‘Attached Gingiva’, is characterized as being a relatively rough and stronger than ‘Free Gingiva’.
Alveolar Bone is the part wrapping the tooth’s implant (root) with periodontal ligament (periodontal fiber), holding the tooth with the bone.
Gingivitis disease is caused by not taking care of oral health thoroughly. There is residue of bacteria plaque at around the tooth’s neck and gingival edge for longer than a week. There is spread of bacteria into the area under the gum and precipitation of carbonate in the saliva occurs on bacteria plaque, forming dental plaque. In this phase, the gum will become swollen and reddened, followed by bleeding gums and start to have bad breath.
If oral health care is neglected for a long time, without proper treatment, it will cause bacteria plaque accumulation and dental plaque increases more and more. More bacteria will release toxins, destroying the immune system, causing gingival inflammation to become swelling, damaging Alveolar bone and periodontal ligament, forming a deep periodontal pocket, which is like a bacteria collection bag.
When bacteria grow more deeply in the gum groove, it will cause pus, with more severe bad breath, loosing teeth, aching when chewing, and if the symptoms are severe, the tooth may have to be removed eventually.
Treatment of gingival inflammation and periodontal disease will be successful, subject to the dentist’s dental treatment process, and cooperation in taking care of cleaning the oral health care of the patient, because the cause of the disease is mainly due to bacteria plaque and dental plaque.
Dentist’s Dental Treatment Process
- Remove plaque with Ultrasonic Cleanser machine, this process is called scaling.
- In the case of having limestone in the gum groove deeper than 3 mm., a dentist will remove the dental plaque by using root planing tool to smooth and clean the root surface. This procedure is called root planing
- In the case of limestone located deeper than the tool can access to clean it, such as in the area of rift between roots, then the treatment needs to be done by surgery, which is called Periodontal Surgery.
- In the case of wide spread of lesion, there is much damage in gums or bone, it may consider to use a treatment called gingival graft or together with bone growing.
In addition to the treatment of dental procedures by a dentist, taking care of oral health and cleanliness of the treatment recipient is also an important factor for successful treatment, as every time you eat something, there will be an immediate formation of bacteria plaque instantly, and if you cannot clean your mouth thoroughly, the bacteria will produce enzyme that damages the gum tissue and periodontal fiber on a regular basis as well.