Dr. Claudio Gioia Dental Surgery

FAQs

FAQs ON GUMS.

What are the signs and symptoms of an oral disease and, particularly, of periodontal disease (gum disease)?

The first signs and symptoms that appear in the early stages of gum problems (called gingivitis) are:

- redness and swollen gums

- bleeding gums when brushing teeth

When left untreated, it may lead to periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, where the symptoms are as follows:

- receding gums, making the teeth look longer

- teeth movement and loose teeth

- gaps appearing between teeth

- sensitive teeth, specially to cold

- burning sensation and painful gums

- bad breath

- in the advanced stages, painful abscesses or gumboils can develop cause of gingivitis and periodontitis. Plaque is a collection of bacteria, which grows around teeth. This collection of bacteria release toxins that lead to inflammation of the gums. When teeth are not properly brushed, then plaque burrows underneath the gums and creates a space between the teeth and gums. This space is called a pocket. Once the plaque is inside the pocket it causes further inflammation. This inflammation leads to gradual bone loss around the teeth. The bone loss is irreversible and can lead to eventual tooth loss.

Although plaque is the primary cause of periodontal disease, other factors may affect the health of gums, including smoking, family history/genetic susceptibility, diabetes and stress, among others.

Gingivitis is a disorder that affects both men and women of all age groups. For example, 75% of people between the ages of 20 to 25 have gingivitis. On the other hand, with gum disease, it is rather rare for teenagers and young people to develop periodontitis (approx. 1 out of 10,000). However, its frequency increases with age—about 10% of the population between 30-40 years of age and 30% between 50-60 years of age suffer from gum disease. Therefore, periodontits affects mostly adults and tends to increase with age.

FAQs ON DENTAL IMPLANTS.

Is there age limit for having dental implants?

From the moment a patient is diagnosed and it is found that they must undergo surgery other clinical tests are carried out so as to make sure that the patient is fit and healthy enough for minor or intermediate surgery. There is no age limit for receiving dental treatment if no contraindication has been found in such tests and there is no reason to withhold a specific treatment.

As regards dental implants, in developed countries, in which the dental hygiene is a well-established habit, these procedures are mostly applied to elderly patients, since it is at this stage in life when they are prone to loose their teeth. Indeed, elderly patients can benefit greatly from stronger teeth. Implants will also keep their dentures much more comfortable—thus improving their quality of life.

Can my body reject an implant? Can implants not bond with the bone?

It has been scientifically proven that, under controlled conditions, titanium roots integrate with the bone of the jaws without tissue reaction, inflammation and infection. The biological fusion of bone to titanium is called osseointegration. This process allows the bone to surround the implant, giving it a firm support. However, implant rejection should not be confused with potential complications associated with the treatment.

Nowadays, 99% of the dental implants prove success. But it should be said that a person considering dental implants should have healthy gums and adequate underlying bone structure to support the dental implants. That is why a person suffering from gum disease should receive a proper treatment to cure it prior to the placement of a dental implant in order to restore the tissues that will surround the implant to good health (gums, bone, etc.).

How long will my dental implants last?

Medical research states that once osseointegration has taken place dental implants last many years, subject to multiple factors such as the health condition of the patient, oral hygiene, regular check-ups, anatomical variations in the mouth, etc.

It is important to carry out thorough oral hygiene daily to avoid any infections that may occur. These infections can lead to reduction in bone mass causing implant loosening. Candidates for dental implants should take into account that a healthy diet is also essential to keep and improve bone mass and bone quality standards.

If I smoke, can I wear dental implants?

Yes, you can but be aware of the fact that the success rate of dental implants in smoking patients is much lower at around 65% only compared to 98.3% for non-smoking patients. It is a proven fact that smokers are at more risk than non-smokers for complications in terms of infection, tissue healing and maintenance of hygiene, which leads, over the years, to dental implant loss.

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