Periodontology

Periodontology is the branch of dentistry that examines the diseases occurring in the tissues around the teeth or implants and applies the necessary treatments for the regulation and improvement of the tissues in this area. Protecting the health of the gums is very important in order to protect the general health as well as the tissues here or to perform other treatments needed in the mouth in a healthy way. An existing disease in the gums may play a role in the exacerbation of systemic diseases such as diabetes. Restoring the health of the gingiva allows the chewing function to be performed more comfortably, allowing for a more ideal continuation of digestion.

1- What are the symptoms that show the formation of disease in the gums?

Healthy gingiva has a firm structure and has a dull and pale pink color. Deterioration of this healthy appearance; the formation of odor in the mouth; displacement of teeth, wobble; Observing one or more of the symptoms such as bleeding, pain, swelling or recession in the gingiva is an indication of a disease in the gingiva. The main reason for the formation of these diseases is the plaques that accumulate on various surfaces in the mouth due to inadequate or incorrectly applied oral care. Bacteria contained in the plaque; It causes inflammation in the gums and if not treated, it can even lead to the destruction of the surrounding bone. Disease development; It can accelerate due to smoking, hereditary characteristics or systemic diseases such as diabetes.

2- In which cases are gingival treatments applied?

Gum treatments can be applied to eliminate diseases in this region or to regulate smile aesthetics. smile aesthetics; Depending on the size of the teeth, the position and symmetry of the smile line, it may not adapt to the person’s taste. Many gum treatment alternatives can be applied to regulate this appearance by protecting oral and dental health. Gum bleeding and gingival recession are very important in the occurrence of diseases in the gums. Gum bleeding usually occurs with the deterioration of the structure of the vessels that feed the tissue, due to structures such as plaque or calculus, which create a suitable environment for the adhesion of bacteria in this region. This bleeding; While it occurs due to factors such as touching and brushing in the early stages of the disease, it may occur spontaneously with the progression of the disease. Gingival recession is an indication that the infection in the gum has reached the bone. Improper brushing of the teeth, uncontrolled systemic diseases or smoking can accelerate the development of gingival recession. In gingival recession, a part of the root surface of the tooth is exposed as a result of bone resorption and loss of gingiva. Depending on the exposure of the root surface, an increase in plaque accumulation and caries formation, sensitivity in the teeth, bad breath and aesthetic problems occur.

3- Which applications are used in gingival treatments?

For the treatment of calculus, which are hardened plaques, scaling or subgingival curettage (deep cleaning) is applied. Dental calculus and plaque on the easily visible surfaces of the teeth are cleaned with ultrasonic devices and special cleaning tools. In cases where cleaning is required on the roots of the teeth under the gingiva, the treatment is usually performed with appropriate cleaning tools without making an incision. In cases where the necessary cleaning cannot be achieved without an incision, the treatment can be performed surgically under local anesthesia.

Gingivectomy (cutting the gums) or gingivoplasty (arranging the gums) procedures are applied to treat gingival aesthetics (pink aesthetic) applications, gingival recession or enlargement problems. These treatments can be done comfortably, usually in a single session. The process of cutting the gingiva can also be applied in the treatment of problems caused by the frenulum, which are soft tissue areas that connect the tissues in the mouth. This procedure, called frenectomy, is preferred if the frenulum is larger than normal and causes problems such as speech or gingival recession.