What is periodontitis?

By periodontitis, dentistry means a chronic inflammation of the structures supporting the teeth, which affects a great many adults in Germany. It is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults

Both caries and periodontitis have their cause in a bacterial burden in the mouth. Whether inflammation arises that ultimately attacks the supporting structures depends on various factors: the individual's genetic disposition plays a part, but psychological and physical strain can also weaken the immune system so that the body can no longer cope with the germs in the mouth. Smokers have a particularly high risk of developing periodontitis, and in them an existing disease also heals markedly less well than in non-smokers

Periodontitis arises where plaque is not removed. These bacterial deposits are responsible for the inflammation; over time they settle between the gum and the neck of the tooth. The inflamed gum comes away from the neck more and more and forms so-called gum pockets in which bacteria and germs can go on raging unnoticed. If the deposits are not removed and the inflammation is not contained, the bacteria also attack the bed of the tooth and the bone in which the teeth are normally firmly anchored

CAUTION: gum pockets!

At this stage the immune system raises the alarm: the body defends itself and fights the bacteria with inflammatory substances of its own. The treacherous part: at first periodontitis causes no pain and therefore often goes undetected for a long time

For that reason a modern prevention plan always includes regular measurement of the gum pockets, assessment of the mucous membrane and, above all, of the tendency of the gums to bleed. With a special, coded probe the dental team can quickly diagnose the affected places and discuss the necessary treatment

Information on the further health risks encouraged by bacterial disease in the mouth can be found on the page "Healthy teeth, more from life"

Periodontitis, medically not quite correctly also called periodontosis, is an inflammatory disease of the structures supporting the teeth. Periodontosis, by contrast, is not inflammatory. Periodontitis can occur at any age, at one tooth or at several at once, at different speeds and in varying degrees of severity

The cause of periodontitis is bacteria that gather between tooth and gum. If these bacterial deposits (plaque) are not removed by thorough cleaning with toothbrush and floss, they form a hard, knobbly deposit (tartar)

If further factors are added, such as stress, smoking or another illness, an inflammatory reaction can occur. The gum is reddened, swollen and inclined to bleed

The problem: because of the inflammation, oral hygiene is painful and may be neglected further, so that more bacteria gather and travel deeper along the tooth. Once in the pockets, they can no longer be removed by ordinary cleaning methods, and the inflammation advances. In the course of the disease deep gum pockets form, a breeding ground for further bacteria. The immune system tries to remove them. Various reactions occur in the process; among other things, substances (enzymes) are formed that are meant to eliminate the disease-causing bacteria. These enzymes do not only remove the harmful bacteria, however, but also destroy the structures supporting the teeth. At an advanced stage the jawbone can break down and the tooth ultimately be lost. Without intact supporting structures the tooth has no hold in its socket, begins to loosen and may be lost

More detailed information can be found at www.parodontologie-berater.de