Gingivitis

The most common disease of the human body is inflammation of the gum tissue directly adjacent to the tooth. Features of gingivitis:

• Redness and swelling of the gums
• Bleeding when brushing, occasionally spontaneous bleeding
• Formation of gum pockets with a depth of over 2 mm

If untreated, gingivitis also affects the deeper parts of the tooth-supporting apparatus and thus leads to periodontitis. The symptoms:

• Persistent inflammation of the gums
• Deep (3-10 mm), often bleeding periodontal pockets
• Bone loss and recession of the gums, resulting in the appearance of 'longer teeth'
• Loosening of the teeth in advanced stages

Given the complexity of this disease, a systematic therapy must be applied, which usually proceeds in several stages and takes weeks, even months.

• Pre-treatment:During the pre-treatment, hard and soft deposits are first removed from the teeth. The patient also receives instructions for their individual oral care. They must be able to clean their teeth, interdental spaces and gum pockets using the appropriate tools and techniques.
• Periodontal treatment:During the actual treatment, the root surfaces are cleaned. Tartar, plaque and bacteria are removed so that the body can get the gum inflammation under control, sometimes with antibiotic support. This process is painless under local anesthesia. If periodontitis is already very advanced, the gum around the affected teeth must be surgically reduced. After thorough cleaning of the tooth roots, the gum is repositioned against the teeth and sutured.
• Aftercare:If periodontitis has come to a halt, this condition can only be maintained through the active participation of the patient. Good personal oral hygiene is just as important as regular check-ups at the dentist.