Periodontitis, or periodontal diseaseis one of the most common oral pathologies, a consequence of multiple factors, such as poor hygiene, genetic predisposition or the existence of a prolonged smoking habit, the main manifestation of which is the loss of the bone in which the teeth are 'attached'.
This bone loss has two aesthetically important effects:
- When accompanied by gum loss, 'spaces' form between the teeth in the area where the gum is normally located, leaving gaps that appear dark when speaking or smiling, spoiling the aesthetics of the smile.
- Because the teeth have less support, they sometimes 'fan out' and open outwards, producing a characteristic dental protrusion that is often disliked by sufferers.
In such cases, once the periodontist has treated the patient with the collaboration of a hygienist who will carry out the follow-up treatments, the patient should know that the initial aesthetics can be restored by orthodontics, either alone or in combination with rehabilitative treatments such as dental veneers.
At this point, many adults decide that they do want to be treated, but... they find that they do not want to be treated with conventional braces, because of the aesthetic impact they have on a personal and professional level, so they look for alternatives that, in many cases, usually come from the hand of InvisalignThe most advanced transparent orthodontic system to date.
How does Invisalign work for periodontal patients?
As we have indicated, the most important thing is that the periodontist gives the go-ahead for orthodontic treatment, after carrying out the treatments he/she considers appropriate, after which the orthodontist chosen to carry out the treatment, who must have Invisalign treatment experienceThe patient will undergo a cephalometric study, an analysis of models and an assessment of the patient's facial appearance.
Once this is done, it will take records that will be sent to the US, where they will scan these 'casts' of the patient's mouth and digitise them, allowing the orthodontist to plan treatment to 'close' the black spaces.
Depending on the shape of the teeth, bone loss and other aesthetic considerations, the orthodontist will plan the treatment by performing a 'selective wear' or 'stripping' between the teeth, to allow the contact points between them to be larger, which will allow them to come closer together and, in the upper area, the resulting gum will close the space as much as possible, achieving a significant improvement in aesthetics.
Once this has been done, and depending on the initial planning, the patient may or may not have to have dental veneers fitted to provide them with the highest level of aesthetics that will help them to regain the confidence to smile again as before.