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Treatment of periodontitis is two stage – periodontal therapy performed under general anaesthesia, and the most important stage is then follow up home care following an oral hygiene program.
Treatment of periodontitis is two stage – periodontal therapy performed under general anaesthesia, and the most important stage is then follow up home care following an oral hygiene program.
===Gingivitis===
Gingivitis is by definition reversible. Removal or adequate reduction of plaque will restore inflamed gingivae to health. Once clinically healthy gingivae have been achieved, these can be maintained by daily removal or reduction in the accumulation of plaque. In short, the treatment of gingivitis is to restore the inflamed tissues to clinical health and then to maintain clinically healthy gingivae, thus preventing periodontitis. Treatment involves performing a dental scale and polish with the purpose of professional periodontal therapy in the gingivitis patient being to remove dental deposits, mainly calculus (which is not removed by toothbrushing). Once the teeth have been cleaned it remains up to the owner to remove the plaque that re-accumulates on a daily basis.
Gingivitis is by definition reversible. Removal or adequate reduction of plaque will restore inflamed gingivae to health. Once clinically healthy gingivae have been achieved, these can be maintained by daily removal or reduction in the accumulation of plaque. In short, the treatment of gingivitis is to restore the inflamed tissues to clinical health and then to maintain clinically healthy gingivae, thus preventing periodontitis. Treatment involves performing a dental scale and polish with the purpose of professional periodontal therapy in the gingivitis patient being to remove dental deposits, mainly calculus (which is not removed by toothbrushing). Once the teeth have been cleaned it remains up to the owner to remove the plaque that re-accumulates on a daily basis.
===Periodontitis===
Untreated gingivitis may progress to periodontitis. In most instances in a practice situation, periodontitis is irreversible. It is important to remember that periodontitis is a site-specific disease, i.e. it may affect one or more sites of one or several teeth. The aim of treatment is thus to prevent development of new lesions at other sites and to prevent further tissue destruction at sites which are already affected. Treatment consists of a dental scale and polish and root surface debridement. Teeth with severe periodontitis will need to be extracted and periodontal surgery may be necessary.
Untreated gingivitis may progress to periodontitis. In most instances in a practice situation, periodontitis is irreversible. It is important to remember that periodontitis is a site-specific disease, i.e. it may affect one or more sites of one or several teeth. The aim of treatment is thus to prevent development of new lesions at other sites and to prevent further tissue destruction at sites which are already affected. Treatment consists of a dental scale and polish and root surface debridement. Teeth with severe periodontitis will need to be extracted and periodontal surgery may be necessary.
Educate the owner of the disease process and also educate them on good daily dental home care such as tooth brushing and diet. Regular examinations to assess the condition of the teeth are vital and the owner needs to be made aware of this.
Educate the owner of the disease process and also educate them on good daily dental home care such as tooth brushing and diet. Regular examinations to assess the condition of the teeth are vital and the owner needs to be made aware of this.
===Periodontal Pockets===
With pocket depths below 5mm, dental scaling and polishing should be performed, and then subgingival curettage and the placement of an antibiotic gel in the pocket may help rejuvenate the periodontal tissues and reduce pocket depth.
With pocket depths below 5mm, dental scaling and polishing should be performed, and then subgingival curettage and the placement of an antibiotic gel in the pocket may help rejuvenate the periodontal tissues and reduce pocket depth.