What are periodontal diseases?

牙周疾病是牙齿周围结构中的感染,而不是实际牙齿本身。这些结构包括:

  • gums
  • 牙槽骨
  • 牙周韧带

It can progress from牙龈炎,这是牙周疾病的第一阶段,仅影响牙龈对其他结构。

Periodontal diseases are caused most often by a combination of bacteria and dental plaque. Symptoms may include:

  • 牙龈出血
  • 牙龈肿胀
  • persistent bad breath
  • painful chewing
  • suddenly sensitive teeth
  • 牙齿松动
  • gum recession

Gum disease should be treated as soon as possible because it’s linked to increased risk factors for conditions like:

When treating periodontal disease, there will be three phases of treatment that your dentist will take you through. These include:

第一阶段:病因阶段

应用t in this phase will focus on controlling the infection and restoring the healthy microbiota that should be there. Your dentist will also take a look at what they think is causing the periodontal disease so they can address the root of the problem.

During this phase, you’ll be educated about what you have to do for home care, which will include taking care of your overall health. You will also be required to stop smoking and to maintain excellent oral hygiene.

Procedures called “scaling” and “root planing” will also happen during this stage, where the dentist will clean your teeth deeply and remove plaque and calculus. Medications may also be prescribed.

第二阶段:手术阶段

如果更保守的治疗方法不有效,则将进入手术阶段。如果感染或牙菌斑和牙垢的口袋太深,无法清洁,这可能会发生。该阶段将在初次治疗后四到八周之间进行评估。

Surgery could include leveling shallow bone defects or using regenerative surgical techniques for deep bone defects. The goal of these surgeries is to remove the pockets of space between the teeth and the bone that can be broken down or destroyed with periodontal disease. This, in turn, will eliminate the room for bacteria, plaque, and tartar to fester.

手术可以在全身麻醉下进行,许多人在手术后不会感到疼痛。大多数人只会错过一天的工作。

第三阶段:维护阶段

维护阶段完全着重于防止牙周疾病恢复。没有仔细的维护,就有很高的复发率。

您的牙医将仔细详细说明您需要遵循的口腔卫生习惯,包括每天正确刷牙和牙线。小心地清洁牙齿,确保不要错过任何难以到达的斑点,并使用漱口水来帮助杀死所有剩余的细菌。您会看到您的牙医进行三个月的随访,而不是等待六个月以确保一切工作状况良好。

如果需要进行广泛的手术,一些人也可能进入恢复阶段。如果提取牙齿或必须去除大量的组织或骨骼,则可以插入植入物或假肢。正畸治疗也可以帮助正确地对齐牙齿,从而使它们更容易照顾。

The exact treatments that your dentist or surgeon will choose depends on the severity of the periodontal disease.

Nonsurgical treatments

Your dentist will first start with nonsurgical treatments.

深层清洁涉及缩放和根策划,可能是您牙医使用的第一批治疗方法之一。它不像手术那样侵入性,并且通常可以有效治疗牙周疾病的次要病例。在此过程中,它们将从牙龈线上和下方刮掉所有牙垢,以及牙齿上的粗糙斑点。这有助于去除有助于牙龈疾病的细菌,同时也摆脱了可能收集的细菌的区域。

深清洁可能会花费between $140 and $300,取决于您的位置和牙医。您的保险可能会或可能不会承保。您可能会遇到一些出血,但是当天晚些时候,您应该能够恢复正常的饮食和饮酒。

您的医生还可以开药,包括您要服用口服的系统性抗生素,或以凝胶形式服用的局部抗生素,您将局部应用。它们通常不够自行治疗牙周疾病,但它们可以帮助使缩放和扎根策划更有效。

您的牙医可能开出的其他药物包括:

  • prescription antimicrobial mouth rinse
  • antiseptic chip, which is a tiny piece of gelatin that contains medication
  • enzyme suppressant, which contains a low dose of doxycycline to keep destructive enzymes from flourishing

Surgical pocket reductions will help clean out tartar in deep pockets and eliminate or reduce those pockets. This will make the area easier to clean and prevent infections from developing in the future. This may be called “flap surgery.”

During this procedure, your dentist will clean the pocket carefully, removing tartar deposits after lifting up the gums to clean underneath them. The gums will then be sutured to fit more tightly around the tooth.

This procedure typically costs between $1000 and $3000 without insurance.

After surgery, you may experience swelling for about 24 to 48 hours. You’ll likely be prescribed antibiotics. Maintain a diet of liquid or soft foods for at least two weeks.

Bone and tissue grafts

如果您的牙周疾病导致骨骼或牙龈组织的损失,则除手术口袋减少外,您的牙医还可能建议骨骼或组织移植物。这将有助于再生骨或组织损失。

在骨移植期间,您的牙医将在损失区域放置自然或合成骨,这可以帮助促进骨骼生长。

Your dentist may use guided tissue regeneration. During this procedure, a mesh-like material is inserted between the bone and gum tissue to prevent the gum from growing where the bone should be and allowing it to regrow properly.

During gum grafting, they’ll use a soft tissue graft. This graft may be either a synthetic material or tissue taken from another area of your mouth. It will be placed to cover exposed tooth roots.

骨骼或组织移植物的单个程序的费用约为600至1200美元。

在后期护理期间,不要使用吸管。根据牙医的建议,请吃六到八周的柔软或液体食物。

牙周疾病会增加您对中风,心脏病,糖尿病和呼吸道疾病等疾病的风险。未经处理,也可能导致拔牙。治疗它非常重要。如果您提早开始,从长远来看,它甚至可以节省您需要更多的侵入性治疗。

Periodontal therapies and treatments are often exceptionally effective, and as long as you follow the instructions your dentist provides you during the maintenance stage, your risk of recurrence is low. This includes careful oral hygiene and no use of any tobacco products.