Dr. Claudio Gioia Dental Surgery

Periodontics.

Periodontal diseases are a group of diseases that affect the tissues (periodontium) that support and anchor the teeth. These diseases are infectious inflammatory disorders caused by bacteria that colonize the tooth surface. The process usually starts with an inflammatory process of the gum (gingivitis) but it may progress with an extensive infection of the gum, as well as the periodontal ligament and the bone surrounding the teeth resulting in substantial bone loss. Periodontal disease is a common oral pathological condition in the adult age and represents the leading cause of tooth loss. At this stage, the condition is called periodontitis (gum disease). If left untreated, it causes progressive bone loss around teeth, looseness of the teeth and eventual tooth loss. People with the disease rarely experience pain and may not be fully aware of the problem.

Gingivitis is inflammation or infection of the gums only, causing them to regularly bleed when brushing the teeth. Gingivitis is reversible but if left untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a disease of the gum tissue and underlying bone. Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis is associated with irreversible loss of the underlying bone that holds the teeth in. Therefore, it can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth.

But what causes periodontal disease? Dental plaque on teeth is the major 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.

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