Periodontitis is a serious gum infection or inflammation that involves the destruction of soft tissue and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontitis can cause shakiness tooth or even tooth loss. Periodontitis is a condition that often occurs, but most cases can be prevented. Periodontitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene. Daily tooth brushing, flossing with dental floss, and regular dental checks can greatly reduce the progression that leads to the occurrence of periodontitis.

Cause

It is estimated that periodontitis begins with the presence of plaque on teeth. Plaque is a sticky film composed mainly of bacteria. Dental plaque which is the food scraps that can contain starches and sugars in food interact with bacteria that will exist in the mouth. Brushing your teeth removes plaque. But plaque can return very quickly, usually within 24 hours.

Plaque on your teeth longer than two or three days can harden under the gum line into tartar (calculus). Unlike plaque, calculus is more difficult to clean by brushing. Calculus can also be a reservoir for bacteria. Removal of calculus can be done by scaling that can be done by a dentist. Scaling is an action for removal of tartar (calculus).

Plaque and tartar on the teeth attached to long will cause more severe damage. Initially, plaque and calculus can only irritate the gums (gingiva). It is commonly known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. But the ongoing inflammation eventually led to the formation of pockets between the gums and teeth that contain plaque, calculus, and bacteria. Over time the inflammation persists and growing up down the gum tissue. So that the infection can cause damage and loss of tissue and bone supporting the teeth. If too much bone supporting the teeth are destroyed, the teeth can be wobbly and then be able to date.

Symptom

Signs and symptoms of periodontitis can include:
1. Swollen gums
2. Reddish gums, bright red, or purple gums
3. Gums painful to the touch
4. Gingival recession, or gums down, thus making the teeth look longer than normal
5. Formed pockets or spaces that develop between the teeth and gums
6. Pus coming out of the area between the teeth and gums
7. Bad breath
8. Wobbly tooth

There are different types, or classifications of periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis is the most common type occurs. Chronic periodontitis most often affects adults, although children may also occur. Aggressive Periodontitis usually begins in childhood or early adulthood and affects only 1 to 2 percent of the population.

When necessary to the dentist

Signs of healthy gums, among other things pink and pale firm, rubbery consistency, with stipling form. If the gums seem puffy, dusky red and bleed easily, or show other signs or symptoms of periodontitis, check with your dentist immediately. The faster the treatment, the better the chance to restore the damage that occurs because of periodontitis, and can prevent the development of more severe illness.

Treatment

There are several ways to treat periodontitis, depending on the severity. The goal of periodontitis treatment is to completely clear the bacteria and to prevent further damage. Treatment can be performed by a dentist or dental specialist periodonsia. Treatment will be successful if the patient is improving the pattern of maintaining oral health every day.

a. Non-surgical treatments

Non-surgical treatments that can be done to improve the condition of periodontitis, among others:

1. Scaling
Scaling is an action to remove calculus and bacteria from the surface of the teeth and under gums. This may be done by a dentist using instruments or ultrasonic devices.

2. Root planing
Root planing smooths the root surface is an action, and discouraging further buildup of calculus.

3. Antibiotics
Dentist or specialist dentist periodonsia may prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to help control bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics generally become the preferred treatment. They can include antibiotic mouth rinses or insertion of threads and antibiotic-containing gel in the bag in between the teeth and gums. However, oral antibiotics may be needed to completely eliminate the bacteria that cause infections.

b. Surgical Care

If the patient has periodontitis may not respond or does not improve with non surgical treatments and good oral hygiene. In this case, the treatment of periodontitis may require dental surgery, such as:

1. With flap surgery (gum pocket reduction surgery)
In this procedure, your dentist or dental specialist periodonsia will make a small incision on the gum so that the gum tissue can be lifted back, exposing the roots to scale more effectively and smoothing. Because periodontitis often causes damage to the bone, the bone supporting the teeth may be reshaped before the gum tissue sutured back in place. The procedure usually takes 1-3 hours and is performed under local anesthesia.

2. Soft tissue grafts
When the loss of gum tissue due to periodontal disease, gum line will fall so as to make the teeth look longer. Therefore it is usually done by taking a small amount of tissue from the palate. This procedure can help reduce further gum recession, cover exposed tooth roots can allow a better appearance aesthetically.

3. Bone grafting
This procedure is performed when periodontitis has destroyed the bone surrounding the tooth root. That will be grafted bone can come from a small fragment of the patient’s own bone or synthetic bone or bone from the donor. Bone grafts can help prevent tooth loss. It can also lead to new bone growth naturally. A bone graft can be performed during tissue regeneration is still possible.

4. Tissue regeneration
This method allows the regrowth of bone that had been destroyed by bacteria. In one approach, the dentist will place a special piece of biocompatible fabric between the bones and teeth. Such materials will prevent unwanted tissue entering the healing area, allowing bone to grow back a replacement.

5. Enamel matrix derivative application
Other techniques may involve the application of a special gel to the tooth root. The gel contains the same protein found in tooth enamel formation and stimulates bone growth and healthy tissue.