Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that affects structures that support the teeth. Such structures include the cement, the gum, periodontal ligament as well as the alveolar bone. There are two major types of this disease. They are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis majorly affects the tooth’s neck and causes inflamed gums. On the other hand, periodontitis affects tissues as well as the bone that supports the teeth. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about half of the adult Americans suffer from periodontal disease. The above is further confirmed by Chapple et al. (2015). Although it has not yet been established, research is underway to uncover the relationship between the above disease and other major illnesses such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease among others. It can hence be considered to be a systemic disease.
Under normal conditions, the different types of teeth function in their unique manner to achieve the overall task related to them. Incisors, which are eight in number are sharp, chisel-like and are used for biting. Closely placed to them are the canines. They are sharply pointed and are used in ripping as well as tearing of food. They are four in number and resemble most of the teeth possessed by carnivores. Closely placed to the canines are the premolars which have a flat like surface intertwined with a few ridges. They are mainly used for chewing as well as grinding food(Shaw, 1917). Lastly, the molars, which resemble the premolars but are a bit bigger and are also used for chewing and grinding. The dental formulae described above applies to adults. It is achieved after the temporary teeth are shed, and permanent teeth replace them. Other than the main role that most individuals consider teeth to have, they also have aesthetic as well as help in pronunciation. For aesthetic purposes, they contribute in how an individual physically looks. The proper arrangement is however paramount for the teeth to help an individual to look attractive. On the other hand, they contribute in word pronunciation with the help of other organs such as the tongue and roof palate. The pronunciation of TH is for example achieved by bringing the tongue into contact with the upper teeth and squeezing air in between them.
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When bacteria that cause periodontal disease are not expelled from where they are attached, they cause pockets that exist between the teeth and the gum that supports the teeth. The gum becomes red, swollen and might bleed, making it hard to accomplish simple tasks such as chewing (Yap, 2017). This is mainly related to gingivitis. Periodontist, on the other hand, destroys the soft tissues in the gum as well as the bone that support the tooth. If left unchecked, both of the above conditions can result in the loss of the tooth or the affected teeth. Other than the above apparent effects, the bacteria that causes the condition might also find its way into the bloodstream. Such bacteria attach themselves to fatty deposits that are found in the heart’s veins and arteries. The escalation of the condition causes clotting of blood in this vessels, eventually causing a heart attack. Besides heart attack, the overgrowth of bacteria in one’s mouth can travel through the bloodstream and infest parts such as the lungs. Just as it causes the inflammation of the gum, it also causes the inflammation of the organ it attacks, in this case, the lungs (Mawardi, et al., 2015). Besides this, it can also be escalated by diabetes. High blood sugars encourage the thriving of bacteria that in turn affects the gum. This increase of this causative agents causes the restriction of blood vessels. As a result, one could suffer from other diseases such as stroke and cancer.
As the nerves, as well as major tissues surrounding the teeth, are affected by the bacteria that is responsible for periodontal disease, several symptoms are manifested. Gums become not only swollen but also more red and painful. In many occasions, they bleed when the person affected tries to brush or floss teeth. Bad breath is also a common symptom. The gum line might also recede, and the teeth might slightly dislocate during biting and chewing food. If unchecked, one could lose teeth as a result.
Several treatment approaches can be utilized to control the infection. One of the basic ones is practicing high standards of oral hygiene. This necessitates flossing teeth regularly as well as brushing after every meal or twice a day. The main aim of the above practices is the removal of plaque that encourages the growth of bacteria on the teeth. Oral hygiene might also necessitate quitting habits that escalate the disease. Example of such a habit is smoking. Scale and polish might also be a procedure suggested by one’s doctor. It is the use of special instruments by the dentist to scrape off the plaque and tartar that might have formed on one’s teeth. Root planning is also another option. It is cleaning of the areas under one’s gum to get rid of the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Other than this, medication such as antibacterial and painkillers can be used to manage the condition as well as reduce the pain that accompanies the infection. Metronidazole or amoxicillin are examples of anti-bacterial that can be prescribed while Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most common painkillers. In situations where the above approaches do not effectively work to relieve the related symptoms, periodontal surgery can be used as a secondary approach to curing the disease. Examples of surgical procedures that can be carried out include pocket reduction, covering of the tooth or teeth that are exposed, and use of open tissue grafts as well as open cleaning.
Chapple, I. L., Van der Weijden, F., Doerfer, C., Herrera, D., Shapira, L., Polak, D., ... & Greenwell, H. (2015). Primary prevention of periodontitis: managing gingivitis. Journal of clinical periodontology, 42(S16).
Mawardi, H. H., Elbadawi, L. S., & Sonis, S. T. (2015). Current understanding of the relationship between periodontal and systemic diseases. Saudi medical journal, 36(2), 150.
Shaw, D. M. (1917). Form and function of teeth: A theory of “Maximum Shear.”. Journal of anatomy, 52(Pt 1), 97.
Yap, A. (2017). Oral Health Equals Total Health: A Brief Review. Journal of Dentistry Indonesia, 24(2), 59-62.
