Dentistry and oral surgery - Treatment

TREATMENT

1. Gingivitis:

   As it is a reversible situation, it is enough to carry out a periodontal examination, dental hygiene to completely eliminate the tartar and dental plaque, control, improvement of the patient's hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist.

2. Periodontitis (active stage)::

   • Periodontal study:
     This is a clinical and radiographical study and the periodontal probing necessary to reach a correct diagnosis of the disease.

   • Scaling and root planing per quadrant:
     It consists of anaesthetising and exhaustively cleaning (3-5mm depth) the surface of the dental roots that are covered by the gum, leaving them clean and smooth but without the need for surgery. The treatment normally consists of 4 sessions where the mouth is divided into quadrants or halves, and each session lasts from 60 to 90 mins. depending on the need of each patient.

   • Re-evaluation of the patient (after 3 months):
     It is normally carried out 3 months after the treatment of the active stage or whenever it is considered necessary. It consists of a clinical examination and a new measurement of the periodontal probing; sometimes part of the radiographical examination is repeated.

   • Periodontal surgery (in the cases where it is deemed necessary):
     It is considered to be necessary when the treatment cannot be carried out in its totality with scaling as the depth of the lesions is greater than 5 mm. It consists of opening the gum to access all the infected periodontal tissue, cleaning and planing the root and eliminating all the inflammatory tissue.

3. Periodontitis (maintenance stage):

   It consists of carrying out hygiene and periodontal revisions every 3, 6, 9 or 12 months as required by each case in particular, and if necessary scaling and root planing in the event of finding active periodontal pockets.

The treatment of periodontal disease is basically orientated towards the reduction of tartar and dental plaque, as well as adopting healthy habits such as:

• Improvement of oral hygiene habits.
• Reduction or elimination of tobacco consumption.
• Healthy diet
• Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, practising sports.