The most common gum diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the marginal gums. If left untreated, the inflammation can spread deeper and lead to periodontitis. If there is no treatment, the disease can progress to tooth loss.
Here you will find further information as well as selected specialists and centers for gum disease.
Gingivitis is a common inflammation of the gums.
Healthy gums are light pink in color. In the case of inflammation, however, the gums are dark red in color and bleed easily, e.g. when brushing your teeth.
This bleeding means that the teeth are no longer cleaned thoroughly enough. This allows plaque to spread further, which in turn promotes the progression of the disease.
Gingivitis can be cured easily and without permanent damage through intensive dental care.
Hormonal changes (oestrogen levels) during pregnancy can lead to a special form of pregnancy gingivitis. It usually disappears within two to three weeks after the end of pregnancy.
In the case of gum disease, the gums are usually inflamed and appear dark red © Марина Демешко | AdobeStock
Without treatment, the inflammation of the gums continues deep down. There it spreads to other structures of the periodontium.
The inflamed gums detach from the surface of the tooth neck. A gum pocket forms, which is quickly colonized by bacteria, as the toothbrush cannot reach it. The plaque that forms calcifies underneath the gums to form tartar.
This tartar is the result, not the cause, of pocket formation. It contributes to the inflammation intensifying and progressing along the tooth towards the root tip. The surrounding bone is involved in the process. As a reaction to the inflammation, the bone and the fibers supporting the tooth break down.
The tooth begins to loosen more and more and eventually falls out.
Despite the bone loss, the gums can remain at a normal height. However, it can also shrink: in this case, the teeth appear longer.
Periodontitis usually progresses relatively slowly in adults. Adolescent periodontitis occurs between the ages of 12 and 20 and progresses very quickly. It often only takes months before the teeth are lost.
Fortunately, this disease only occurs very rarely (approx. 0.1 percent).
The aim of periodontal therapy is to protect the periodontium from further damage and thus preserve teeth and dental function. The aim is also to regenerate the periodontal tissue.
The treatment is carried out in several stages. The patient can play a decisive role in the success of the treatment through exemplary oral hygiene. At the beginning of treatment, patients receive detailed instructions on regular dental care at home.
First, the dentist obtains a precise picture of the progress of the gum disease. In addition to x-rays, gum pocket probing is used for this purpose. With this method, the depth of the gum pockets and the extent of the inflammation can be measured using a special probe that is guided along the tooth.
A saliva test provides more precise information about the type of bacteria colonized there.
Such comprehensive diagnostics also include the overall condition of the dentition.
In the first phase of treatment, hard and soft plaque is thoroughly removed (professional teeth cleaning). Restoration of the dentition may also be necessary.
This is followed by the actual treatment of the bacterial foci located below the gum line.
The closed treatment takes place under local anesthesia. The dentist now also cleans the areas inside the gum pockets to remove plaque. To do this, he uses
devices. This method is called subgingival scaling or closed curettage.
Sometimes the pockets are very deep or closed treatment has proved unsuccessful. Surgical treatment may then be necessary. In this open form of treatment, the areas under the gums are exposed and cleaned again under visual control.
In addition, severely damaged areas can be treated with bone replacement materials or membranes. This supports the regeneration of the periodontal tissue.
Parallel to this, depending on the predominant types of bacteria, additional antibiotic therapy may be advisable. The active ingredient can be administered in tablet form or directly to the inflamed areas.
The periodontium usually does not fully regenerate even after periodontitis has been suppressed. This is why regular aftercare and continuous intensive oral and dental hygiene are all the more important. This prevents bacteria from settling again in the gum pockets that have already been treated.
The best prevention against gum disease is intensive oral hygiene. This includes regular dental check-ups with removal of tartar. Regular professional teeth cleaning also does no harm.
Giving up smoking can also have a positive effect on teeth. Smokers have a much higher risk of developing periodontitis than non-smokers.
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