dental cleaning routines
Periodontal Pocket
Periodontal Pocket
The term periodontal pocket refers to the presence of abnormally deep gingival sulcus around the area where the gums come in contact with the tooth. The sulcus cannot be removed through proper brushing of teeth when it has reached to a depth of 3 millimeters. A dental surgery is needed then, for thoroughly cleaning the infected area. If the gingival sulcus is left untreated, it causes the debris to build up and the attachment fibers holding the teeth in place to loosen up and thus leading to weakening of the teeth. Periodontal pocket should be immediately taken care of.
During the dental probing, if bleeding occurs it shows the existence of periodontal pockets because they are highly sensitive and even the slightest probing will cause inflammation and bleeding.
There is another closely related term – gingival pocket. When the attachment fibers do not become weakened due to the deep gingival sulcus, then it is known as gingival pocket. This condition can be cured by improving oral hygiene habits.
Treating periodontal pocket requires removing of debris and bacteria. It involves various steps. The dentist first tries to remove the bacteria as much as possible using the non-surgical procedures like scaling and debridement techniques. If the non-surgical treatments do not prove to be useful, the dentist resorts to the surgical treatment procedures and performs root planning.
In root planning, the bacteria are removed mechanically from the gingival sulcus. Numerous visits to the dentist are required till the successful removal of bacteria. After the completion of the surgical procedure, the patient is required to visit the dentist every three months for thoroughly cleaning of the infected area so that it does not get repopulated with the bacteria. A strict dental cleaning routine needs to be followed after the treatment.
It is recommended to follow proper dental cleaning routines and have periodic dental visits for preventing the periodontal pockets.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
What Is Periodontal Disease?
There are numerous periodontal diseases ranging from a simple inflammation of gums to severe damage to the soft tissue and bone. In many cases, teeth might be lost too.
Periodontal diseases are caused mainly by plaque and tartar. Our mouth has various bacteria. When the sugars and starches present in our food come in contact with the bacteria, it results in formation of plaque, which when hardened converts to tartar. Normal brushing and flossing does not remove this plaque and tartar. For it, professional dental help is required.
There are some common symptoms of periodontal disease. These include persistent bad breath; red, swollen and tender gums which often bleed; painful chewing; sensitive teeth; loose or receding teeth.
Out of the common risk factors, smoking and diabetes are the most significant ones. Moreover, certain diseases like cancer and AIDS as well as their treatments can also contribute to the occurrence of periodontal diseases. Furthermore, certain medications tend to reduce the saliva in the mouth thus making the mouth more vulnerable to infections; whereas some medications tend to cause abnormal growth of the gums, thus making them difficult to clean and hence inducing infection. Genetic susceptibility is another important factor for periodontal diseases; some people are genetically more prone to periodontal diseases.
It is advised to strictly observe the dental cleaning routines. Brushing of teeth should be done at least twice and flossing at least once daily. Moreover, a healthy, well balanced diet should be maintained. Furthermore, periodic dental checkups should be done.
There are various periodontal treatment options available. Your dentist will suggest the type of treatment to be performed depending upon the extent of the disease. Generally, the periodontal diseases are treated either by deep cleaning i.e., scaling and root planning; or by medications or by carrying out various surgical treatments.
