What is Gum Disease?
Your teeth are set into your jaws supported by the gums and bone.
The roots of the teeth are connected to the bony socket with the help of
millions of fibers called the periodontal ligament. Gums (gingiva) are
essentially a tough fibrous tissue that covers the bone up to the neck
of the teeth. The outer layer of the gums fits snugly around the enamel
(outer layer of the tooth).
Improper brushing leads to formation of plaque, which contains injurious
bacteria’s and is the main cause of gum diseases. Plaque is a filmy substance
made up of different bacteria, which forms around your teeth. If neglected
the plaque attacks your gums leading to inflammation and bleeding of the
gums. This is known as GINGIVITIS.
Gums become red, swollen, and sensitive, and bleed on brushing or just
on mild finger pressure. Bleeding gums are a warning that plaque has weakened
the tissues around the teeth.
If neglected further, and the plaque is not removed from the teeth
by proper brushing then it hardens around the gum line and forms tartar
(Calculus) by the absorption of salivary salts mainly calcium and phosphorous.
Once this happens, only a dentist can remove the tartar through professional
cleaning (scaling) of teeth. In more advanced stage the infection spreads
into the surrounding bone causing mobility of the tooth due to destruction
of the supporting tissues. This is known as PERIODONTITIS
or Pyorrhea. Pus discharge can occur from the gums causing
bad breath and bad taste. As more bone loss occurs the tooth becomes very
mobile and eventually fall off.
Infection of the gums can cause the gums to get separated from the
tooth surface resulting in pocket formation. This causes food impaction
between the teeth and the gums, and cause severe pain and irritation. The
gums may also recede from the tooth and expose the root surface. This makes
the tooth sensitive to extreme temperature changes and to sweets.
Gum diseases can also take the form of GUMBOIL,
occurring due to an infected tooth. If a carious tooth is not filled at
an early stage, the infection can spread into the pulp (vital tissues of
the tooth). Pus may collect inside the tooth due to the destruction of
pulp, and work its way through the end of the root into the jawbone, and
pushes out the gum and drains out as a gumboil.
How can I prevent Gum Diseases?
Although gum diseases can occur at any age, they usually affect
adults. As many as 90% of the people above the age of 40 years suffer from
some form of gum disease. The causes of this disease are multifactorial, but the presence of
bacteria in plaque is the main cause.
Thus the most effective way is to prevent the formation of plaque.
Prevention is better than cure. Plaque is the biggest villain behind both
tooth decay and gum diseases. Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible, whitish
yellow, thin film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. Brushing
and flossing twice a day and after every meal can control plaque formation.
Follow the Six Golden Rules. You must practice these good dental
habits for a good dental health.
Sometimes the most careful and conscientious cleaning of the teeth
by proper brushing can leave some plaque and tartar deposits. Therefore
it is usually necessary to have your dentist give your teeth a professional
cleaning (scaling) every 12 months. Professional cleaning improves the
dental health and helps to maintain a good oral hygiene.
What are the cures for Gum Diseases?
Early gingivitis is usually completely reversible. The dentist will
do a professional cleaning (SCALING)
to remove the plaque and tartar, which is a simple and painless procedure.
The gums regain their strength and normal shape after a few days. Then
you have to maintain a good oral hygiene to prevent the reoccurrence of
gingivitis by deposition of plaque near the gum line, through proper brushing
and flossing techniques.
Repeated deposits of plaque and tartar (calculus) sometimes cause
thickening of the gums (gingiva) around the teeth, which does not return
to normal even after cleaning (scaling) of the teeth. This may results
in food deposition due to pocket formation. It may also appear as a growth
and give an unpleasant appearance. Under such circumstances removal (excision)
of the excess tissue is recommended under local anesthesia. This is referred
to as GINGIVECTOMY. The gums usually
heal by about 8 days, and the contours of the teeth are restored.
When you neglect deposits of plaque and tartar under your gums the
tooth supporting fibers and bone gets destroyed. The tooth becomes mobile.
Depending upon the bone loss and the reaming supporting tissues the tooth
can be saved through a special type of gum surgery, under local anesthesia called the PERIODONTAL FLAP SURGERY.
If no treatment is done to save the tooth, the tooth falls off.
Procedure: Under Local anesthesia the gums around the affected teeth are reflected to elevate
a periodontal flap. All the deposits of plaque, tartar and granulation
tissues are removed. The damaged bone is removed and the area is smoothened
by grinding and filling. Root planing is done with root planers or with
medicaments for better attachment of periodontal fibers. The infected parts
of the gums are also removed. The flap is then firmly placed on the bone
by suturing. If excess bone destruction has occurred then the bonny defects
maybe filled with bone grafts. The
sutures are removed after about 6 days, and in about a week or two the
remaining gums offer healthy tooth support.
SPLINTING of the affected tooth
maybe done before or after the surgery. Splinting is the adhesion of the
affected mobile tooth to the adjacent teeth to help in the formation of
better and healthy supporting tissues.
After the surgery you have to maintain a good oral hygiene by proper
tooth brushing and flossing. A professional cleaning (Scaling)
is advised every 6 months.
* My
Homepage * Know
your teeth * Know
your Gums (Gingiva) * Eruption
Dates * Six
Golden Rules * Brushing\Flossing
Technique * Wisdom
tooth * Tooth
Decay * Extraction
* Dental
Implant * Surgical
Extraction * Orthognathic
Surgery * Asymmetry
of the face * Gummy
Smile * Prognathism{Long
Jaw} * Beggs\Straight
wire{Orthodontia} * Bleaching{Tooth
Whitening} * Habit
Breaking * Interceptive
Orthodontics * Discolouration\Veneers
* Composite\Amalgam
Fillings * Root
Canal Treatment{RCT} * Crown{Porcelain\Castmetal}
* Flap
Surgery/Splinting * Bridges{Porcelain\Castmetal}
* TMJ (Joint)
Disorders * Bell's
Palsy {Facial Paralysis} * Ankylosis{Difficulty
in mouth opening} * Cleft
Lip and Palate * Trigeminal
Neuralgia * In
a Lighter vein
This site is produced, designed and maintained by
Dr Antony George, Trichur
Institute of Head And Neck Surgery (TIHANS),
Shornur Road,Trichur,Kerala-680001,India.
Ph: 0091-0487-335145, 335185
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copyright ©Aug 2000. No part of this website may be transmitted or reproduced
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information, but I assume no responsibility for its use.
updated Aug2002.