Dental Tourism - Gingivitis

Gingivits

That is Gingivitis?
Redness and swelling of gingival tissues (gums) that may be caused by irritants (plaque, a soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth composed largely of bacteria and bacterial derivatives). When plaque stays on the teeth for more than 72 hours, it hardens into tartar (calculus) adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth, which cannot be completely removed by brushing and flossing. Disease, (viral infections, fungal infections like thrush (candidiasis), gingivitis due to leukemia, improper hygiene (inadequate brushing and flossing) , and or poor general or nutritional health (vitamin C deficiency, niacin deficiency .

Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease
Gums may bleed when you brush or floss. With treatment, gingivitis can be reversed. However, gingivitis that is left untreated may progress to periodontitis, a more severe gum disease that can result in tooth loss.

Gingivits Treatment

Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is the most common and conservative form of treatment for periodontal (gum) disease. Scaling is the removal of calculus (commonly called tartar) and plaque that attach to the tooth surfaces. The process especially targets the area below the gum line, along the root. Plaque is more likely to stick to rough surfaces. For this reason, the root surface is smoothed down in a process called root planing. Root planing removes any remaining calculus and smoothes irregular areas of the root surface.

How It is Done?

Scaling and root planing are done with a combination of ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments. Ultrasonic instruments are electric or air-powered. They have two components:
A relatively metal tip that vibrates at a very high frequency and "knocks" plaque and calculus off the tooth
A water irrigation system that cools the tip and helps to flush out debris from around the teeth
Hand instruments are not powered. They have cutting edges that your dentist or hygienist uses to chip away plaque and calculus.
These instruments come in various shapes and sizes. Different instruments are used for different teeth, and even for different surfaces of the same tooth.
Typically, ultrasonic instruments are used first to remove large deposits of plaque and calculus from the crowns and roots of the teeth. Hand instruments called scalers and curettes are then used to remove any remaining material and make sure that the tooth surface is clean and smooth. When working under the gum line, your dentist or hygienist cannot see the plaque or calculus. He or she will rely on the sense of touch to feel for roughness on the root surface.
Sometimes, scaling and root planing can be completed in one visit. This usually is possible if you have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. However, if you have periodontitis, multiple visits are usually needed.

Prevention

What can I do to avoid periodontal disease?

To keep your teeth for a lifetime, you must remove the plaque from your teeth and gums every day with proper brushing and flossing. Regular dental visits are also important. Daily cleaning will help keep calculus formation to a minimum, but it won't completely prevent it. A professional cleaning at least twice a year is necessary to remove calculus from places your toothbrush and floss may have missed.

By Dr. Cirenia Aparicio

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