At its most advanced stage, it may be a risk factor for inflammation of autoimmune diseases, premature births, damage to heart valves, endocarditis, and even myocardial infarction. I am talking about periodontitis. One of the preventive methods is gum curettage.
It all starts with bacteria
Periodontitis is the most serious of the group of gum diseases. It is a bacterial infection that, contrary to popular belief, has no source in genes – this form occurs only in less than 5% of people. people. Inflammatory infections of the gums cause gum recession and bone loss, which, without proper treatment, can lead to advanced periodontitis and even complete loss of teeth.
– The disease begins with the deposition of food remains, which is why exemplary oral hygiene and professional removal of plaque and tartar at the dentist are so important, which will protect the teeth from possible consequences. If we don’t respond early enough, symptoms will progress. The patient’s gums will start to bleed and may experience swelling, soreness, an unpleasant smell and taste in the mouth, and periodontal pockets. Bad habits, such as smoking, are also harmful, which further aggravates the problem – says the drug. stom. Przemysław Stankowski from Stankowscy & Białach. Dentistry in Poznań.
Curettage will clean our gums
The situation becomes complicated when hardened tartar migrates much deeper, where neither the thread nor the patient’s brush reaches – under the gums. This is because plaque full of pathogenic bacteria presses against the soft tissues and begins to destroy them. As a result, periodontal pockets are formed – gaps between the gum and the tooth, where bacteria accumulate, which exposed tooth roots. The so-called receding dental necks are a significant problem because food can accumulate in them during meals, they can react with hypersensitivity to touch, temperature changes, cause unpleasant smell from the mouth and thus facilitate the development of inflammation. Subgingival curettage may be a rescue at this stage. How does it look like?
– Gingival curettage is the cleaning of gingival pockets, it is used in the prophylaxis and therapy of periodontal diseases, e.g. periodontitis. Curettage is divided into open and closed. Open curettage concerns deep pockets, over 5 mm. Usually, the procedure is preceded by a professional tooth hygienization treatment, i.e. sandblasting and ultrasonic scaling, which cleans the teeth of tartar and plaque. Then the dentist cuts the gum, reveals the root area and carefully cleans the gap between the gum and the tooth with a special device. Chronic granulationitis can be eliminated by removing the altered soft periodontal tissue from the pocket. Finally, the area is disinfected and seams are applied. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so it is completely painless for the patient – explains Dr. Stankowski.
The closed curettage procedure is different in that it concerns pockets below 5 mm deep, where the dentist does not cut the gums, but only lifts the mucosa to gain access to the altered surface and be able to clean it.
After the open curettage procedure, a slight swelling of the gums may occur, which passes after a few days, as the gums gradually regain their adhesion to the teeth.
When to perform curettage?
The curettage procedure is indicated in the case of advanced changes in periodontal tissues, gum infections and as an element in the treatment of periodontitis.
Gum curettage is a procedure that improves tooth stability, restores gum health and restores the patient’s normal taste sensation. In such a patient, it is advisable to monitor the condition of the gums and take care of hygiene: regular brushing of the teeth twice a day with a soft brush along with flossing the interdental spaces. If we have a tendency to gingival pockets, it is worth visiting the dentist regularly to check the condition of the gums.
– The doctor will check the depth of the gingival crevices next to each tooth, and also check if the fillings are smooth and have no sharp edges. If the fillings are uneven, the patient may have difficulty cleaning the interdental spaces because the floss will fray and jerk. On the other hand, in the case of tartar deposit, it is crucial to remove it at the dentist, who cleans the teeth of plaque and then polishes it. On clean, smooth and slippery teeth, plaque builds up much slower, explains the dentist.
Curettage is sometimes part of comprehensive periodontal therapy, but in many cases it also helps to avoid more complex surgical procedures that help rebuild bones and gum tissue lost during the disease.