Periodontal hastalıklar dişeti ve dişleri çevreleyen dokuları etkileyen iltihabi hastalıklardır. Erişkinlerde diş kayıplarının %70’inin nedeni dişeti hastalığıdır. Erken dönemde teşhis edildiklerinde dişeti hastalıkları kolay ve başarılı bir şekilde tedavi edilebilirler.

Preventing or treating gum disease brings other benefits such as preserving natural teeth, providing easier chewing and better digestion. The first symptom is bleeding at the gum edges (seen when brushing teeth) and the gum color changing from pink to red. This stage is the early stage of the disease. It may not cause much symptom or discomfort in the early stage. If left untreated, the disease progresses and causes the alveolar bone supporting the teeth to melt, and this condition is unlikely to be reversible.

In the advanced stage, a “periodontal pocket” forms between the tooth and gum. The presence of a periodontal pocket facilitates the location of the infection and the progression of the disease. As the disease progresses, teeth begin to loosen due to bone loss, sometimes abscesses form and eventually teeth need to be extracted.

Gum disease treatment

In the early stages of gum disease, treatment involves removing plaque and tartar on the teeth and ensuring a smooth root surface. This procedure removes bacteria and irritants that cause inflammation in the gums. This treatment is usually sufficient to re-adapt the gums to the teeth or to shrink the gums and eliminate the pocket. In the early stages of gum disease, in the majority of cases, daily effective oral care followed by tartar removal, plaque removal and ensuring a smooth root surface is sufficient for successful treatment. More advanced cases may require surgical treatment.