Prophylaxis of periodontitis

Why do we have to brush our teeth?

To remove dental deposit and avoid different gum diseases.

Every day a sticky film appears on the tooth surface. This film consists of bacteria that accumulate in places hard to reach and especially between teeth and on the gum border. That may cause various diseases of the teeth such as caries and periodontitis.

What is the difference between tooth deposit and dental calculus?

Bacteria deposits interact with minerals contained in the saliva and gradually harden. That is the way for dental calculus to appear.

Dental calculus can be removed only by means of professional hygienic tooth cleaning performed by a doctor.

What does a healthy gum look like?

A healthy gum is pale pink, strong and dense. It's snug against necks of teeth. While being brushed healthy teeth don't bleed.

How does periodontitis appear?

If you don't remove tooth deposits for a long time bacteria produce toxins that cause gum inflammation. It is the first stage of the disease or gingivitis.

What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

Inflamed and bleeding gums, unpleasant taste in your mouth, smell from your mouth, gradually progressing mobility of the teeth.

How does the inflammation appear?

When a bacterial deposit grows and reaches the gingival margin (a small cavity between tooth and gum) deeper periodontium layers get inflamed. Pathological periodontal sinuses appear. As a result bone tissue also gets inflamed and that causes its destroying.

The more bone tissue is destroyed, the more is tooth mobility, and so suppurative inflammation (abscess) can appear within periodontal sinuses. Sometimes a gum lowers leaving dental roots naked.

What is the daily periodontitis prophylaxis?

At home you should try to completely remove dental deposits.

Most people can't even imagine how difficult is to remove a tooth deposit and especially on a gingival margin. While brushing teeth people usually miss one and the same place .

It is in these zones that inflammation usually appears. To avoid it a doctor performs a test with a dye to find out where dental deposits usually remain after brushing. With the doctor's help you can become familiar with effective dental care. Good oral hygiene makes your breath fresh and your gums and teeth healthy.

Why is it necessary to have professional hygienic cleaning of the teeth?

There are places that are hard to reach (interdental spaces and periodontal sinuses) where it's impossible to remove bacteria deposits and dental calculus without any help. People who smoke and drink strong tea or coffee usually have darkened teeth.

Professional hygienic cleaning of teeth removes dental deposits, it renews natural enamel colour. So it's better to have professional hygienic cleaning of teeth regularly.

Professional hygienic cleaning involves:

1. Deposit colouring and individual consultation concerning hygiene.

2. Removal of dental deposits and dental calculus; periodontal sinuses and interdental spaces are cleaned with the help of an ultrasonic device or manually.

3. Renewing of natural enamel colour and whitening with an airflow method.

4. Tooth surface polishing.

5. Fluoride treatment.

Exercise 9. The text to be translated in written form.

Dental diseases are not different from other diseases but they are comparatively easy to diagnose because the affected tissues are open to observation.

The most common dental diseases are caries, gingivitis and pyorrhoea.

Dental caries may affect enamel or it can involve both enamel and dentine.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum margin or gingiva that may in time involve the underlying and adjacent structures.

Pyorrhoea occurs usually during middle or late life. There may be an oedema of the periodontal membrane in which case the teeth are raised in their sockets and elongated, and yet this condition is not actually pyorrhoea since there is no infection. Pyorrhoea exists when there is a partial destruction of the periodontal membrane and purulent discharge indicating infection. In the treatment of pyorrhoea it is necessary to remove all sources of irritation. Diet plays an important role in building up the local tissue resistance.

Exercise 10. Reading for information. Use a dictionary if necessary.