About Periodontics
Periodontics is the specialty that diagnoses, prevents and treats the supporting and surrounding tissues of teeth and their substitutes (implants). These supporting tissues that periodontics is responsible for are called periodontium and include the gums, the periodontal ligament (cells and fibers that cushion the contact between tooth and bone), cementum (internal part of the tooth and lining of the root, a structure different from that of dental enamel) and the alveolar bone (bone responsible for supporting the tooth, if the tooth is lost this bone is reabsorbed).
Periodontal diseases are usually caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque. When only the gum is affected by excess bacterial plate on the surface of the teeth, we call inflammation gingivitis. When treated, gingivitis is reversible and when not controlled, other structures besides the gum are also affected, we call it periodontitis. There are other periodontal diseases associated with habits, such as smoking, hormonal dysfunction, nutritional and metabolic deficiencies and genetic factors.
For a few years now, medicine has become aware of the relationship between oral problems and problems in the rest of the body. It is known that bacteria from the mouth can reach the bloodstream and cause damage to organs such as the heart and lungs. The oral cavity must always have its microbiota under control, and this must be done with daily oral hygiene habits and regular visits to the periodontist for procedures such as scaling and prophylaxis.
