Prophylaxis of periodontal disease
Synonyms
Periodontitis prophylaxis
introduction
In the colloquial as Periodontal disease known disease is an inflammation of one or more structures of the Teeth supporting apparatus (lat. Periodontium).
For this reason, the term periodontal disease is incorrect from a dental perspective, the technically correct term is Periodontal disease. Inflammatory processes in the area of the periodontium, including the Gums (lat. Gingiva) and the Jawbone are among the most common human diseases. Around every second person will suffer from one at least once in their lifetime Inflammation of the gums (lat. Gingivitis). In the majority of cases, periodontal disease results directly from inflammation of the gums, but there may be other causes for the occurrence of this disease in individual patients.
From this fact it can be concluded that the risk of developing inflammatory processes of the gums is strictly related to irregular or simply improperly performed oral hygiene. The consequences of periodontal disease depend on the initial condition of the teeth, the severity of the disease and the structures of the tooth support system involved. In addition, the point in time at which dental therapy is initiated also plays a decisive role in the prognosis of the success of the treatment. In principle, periodontitis can lead to extensive bone loss and the loss of otherwise perfectly healthy teeth.
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- Inflammation of the gums
- chronic periodontal disease
Periodontal disease prophylaxis
The most effective way to prevent periodontal disease in the long term (prophylaxis) is a regularly and adequately carried out dental care. Patients who at daily Brush teeth Bleeding or pain in the gums (Bleeding gums) should urgently consult a dentist, as these are probably the symptoms of gingivitis, the degree of periodontal disease. Most dental practices offer special prophylaxis sessions at regular intervals in which the patient's brushing behavior is analyzed with the help of coloring tablets.
In addition, within the periodontal prophylaxis, there is a targeted brushing training that is geared towards the respective patient and his or her dental status.
This training includes instructions for cleaning teeth and interdental spaces. In addition, a so-called professional tooth cleaning (PZR) can be carried out in the course of periodontal prophylaxis. The attending dentist uses sterilizable hand instruments that are ground at a specific angle (curettes) and can therefore be guided very closely along the tooth surface.
This enables effective cleaning of the tooth surface and the spaces between the teeth, both soft plaque and hard (tartar) deposits can be easily removed.For periodontal prophylaxis, it is advisable to use a toothbrush at least three times a day for oral hygiene at home.
The right choice of the right toothbrush also plays a decisive role. Medium Hard toothbrush heads are most useful for patients with gum disease, because soft bristles are not able to completely remove all plaque on the tooth surface.
Hard brush heads, on the other hand, exert too much pressure on the gums, which are already attacked, can injure them and promote receding gums.
In addition to cleaning the smooth tooth surfaces, cleaning the spaces between the teeth as part of an effective periodontal prophylaxis should not be neglected. For this reason, the use of dental floss and / or interdental brushes should be considered at least once a day, preferably in the evening. For patients with very narrow interdental spaces, the use of dental floss is usually straightforward. In patients with wide interdental spaces or nesting of the teeth, however, this is usually not sufficient. This fact is due to the fact that the dental floss cannot be guided close enough to the tooth surface in large spaces. Real cleaning is therefore not possible. For these patients, it makes sense to switch to the use of interdental brushes. For optimal, long-term periodontal prophylaxis, interdental brushes with a suitable diameter must be used. Most dentists offer an adjustment of the interdental brushes as part of the prophylaxis session.
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How useful is periodontal prophylaxis?
Periodontitis can often not be avoided despite normal oral hygiene. Therefore, intensified hygiene through supporting periodontal prophylaxis is a recommended measure for the effective prevention of this disease. While normal tooth brushing will remove most of the plaque, it will not remove it completely. These deposits then cause inflammation of the teeth supporting structures and lead to bone loss. The aim of periodontal prophylaxis is to keep the number of deposits as low as possible. With good oral hygiene instructions and the use of interdental brushes, the patient can improve the condition of the gums himself. Furthermore, with professional tooth cleaning (PZR), hard-to-reach areas are cleared of plaque that cannot be reached by yourself, which is why periodontal prophylaxis clearly increases oral hygiene and thus also lowers the risk of periodontal disease.
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Cost of periodontal prophylaxis
As in many cases, a clear amount cannot be given here either, as many factors, such as the number of teeth, the instruments used and the duration, have an influence on the price. These start at 40 euros and can even exceed 200 euros. On average, however, you should expect around 75 euros. It is also advisable to find out from your health insurance company whether it will cover a certain amount. If you have additional dental insurance, depending on the conditions, it will also cover the costs of such treatment.
Is the treatment painful?
Whether periodontal prophylaxis is painful depends on the condition of the gums. If this is severely inflamed, even simple tooth brushing can cause pain, and even more so, professional teeth cleaning. The reason for this is that when there is inflammation, certain substances are released in the inflamed tissue, which increases the sensitivity of the nerve fibers there. However, if there is no inflammation, it can be assumed that the therapy is not painful and one need not be afraid of it.
Read more about the topic here: Professional teeth cleaning process
How often should prophylaxis be carried out?
At best, the prophylaxis interval should be determined with your dentist, as this varies from person to person. Factors that play a role are, for example, the risk of periodontitis and the periodontal status of the patient. One treatment per year is recommended for a person with healthy gums. However, if the risk of periodontitis is increased, teeth should be cleaned more frequently. An interval of three months can also be optimal here.
Laser therapy
A new method of periodontitis prophylaxis is laser therapy. A laser is used to disinfect the gingival pockets and kill the bacteria living there. It is not yet possible to say whether this process is better than manual cleaning, as there are not enough studies on it. Since the plaque in the pockets of the gums is not removed during laser therapy, the laser is more suitable as a supplement to conventional cleaning.
