When we think of a smile, we can't help but think directly of the teeth. But we tend to forget a very important part: the gums. Quite simply put, without the gums there would be no smile. This means we must give them the attention they deserve and take care of them regularly for the sake of our oral health, in order to prevent diseases such as the dreaded periodontitis.
In fact, the bacteria we have in our gums can pass into our blood, causing disease in other parts of the body. This is why it is increasingly common for cardiologists, urologists and endocrinologists to refer patients to us for treatment and follow-up.
Why Vélez and Lozano?
Because at our dental clinic in Murcia, we understand that gum health has implications for the whole body. We consider monitoring and treating the gums to be just as important as the work of a cardiologist, because a patient’s genetic conditioning factors influence the chances of them developing periodontitis again.
How do we do this monitoring?
At Vélez y Lozano we have a Florida digital probe, which we can use to digitally measure the amount of gum and bone in each tooth, millimetre by millimetre. This allows us to create a 'map' of the patient's mouth that we will use as a reference, and which we will review at each appointment.
In addition, we offer you personalised recommendations, we review the way you brush every inch of your gums on a daily basis, and we keep bacteria at bay.
Our minimally invasive approach is based on the use of air polishing techniques that involve less contact and friction, therefore preventing unnecessary wear to the tooth during decontamination.
How is periodontitis treated?
There are two or three foundations of treatment, depending on the patient:
- The basic phase of gum treatment includes scaling and root planing or curettage (manual cleaning under the gums) together with giving specific hygiene instructions, which requires the patient’s compliance.
- Scaling and root planing is a very conservative gum treatment. The application of local anaesthetic allows us to access the deepest parts of the gums in order to properly clean and disinfect without our patients experiencing sensitivity or pain.
- In certain more severe cases, it is necessary to progress to a second treatment phase in which gum surgery is performed. These are minimally invasive surgeries that allow cleaning and disinfection of areas that are very difficult to access. They also repair and regenerate the areas most affected by this pathology.
- Finally, it is essential to follow a maintenance or follow-up plan to prevent and control possible recurrences.
These individualised maintenance plans allow us to manage the disease in the long term. They are based on controlling plaque, improving hygiene techniques, radiographic monitoring and periodic cleaning to prevent periodontal disease from recurring.