Periodontology is a branch of dentistry that studies the tissues of the periodontium (peri = around; odons = tooth) and the pathologies related to it.
The periodontium is made up of:
- gum
- alveolar bone
- root cementum (tissue covering the root of the tooth)
- periodontal ligament.
Periodontics deals with the set of soft tissues (the periodontal ligament and the gum) and hard tissues (cementum and alveolar bone tissue) that surround the tooth and ensure its stability in the alveolar arch (in healthy conditions).
Periodontal disease is a disease that affects the tooth’s support system and is caused by a bacterial infection that acts on a predisposed individual. One of the first manifestations is bleeding gums that is evident when touching the gums. There may be bad breath, a sensation of tooth mobility or teeth that move.
An intraoral x-ray shows how much bone has been lost around the tooth. The lost bone can in many cases be recovered. The first step is proper personal and professional oral hygiene.
The dentist and/or hygienist will perform the survey (with a graduated instrument the loss of attachment around the tooth is measured by gently inserting it into the gum) and will check the condition of the gums and the loss of periodontal attachment.
Eliminating the bacteria forms the basis for the attachment to reform. In very advanced cases, surgery is performed. Dr. Grusovin is a specialist in the treatment of periodontitis and in particular in regenerative surgery. The surgical approach is minimally invasive thanks to the use of microsurgical instruments and optical magnifiers that allow working by limiting access as much as possible. The post-operative period is minimal and with a single intervention, in many cases the extraction and insertion of implants are avoided.
A particular technique is periodontal regeneration. The tissues lost due to the disease can be regenerated. Sometimes biomaterials are used that help stabilize the clot.