bleeding gums Flashcards
What makes up the periodontium?
The gingival tissues
The alveolar bone (hold the teeth in the socket)
The PDL (attaches bone to root surface)
Cementum (attaches to the PDL)
What is gingivitis?
Inflammatory lesion mediated by host/parasite interaction
Reversible gingival inflammation without destruction of tooth-supporting tissues
Caused by accumulation of plaque
Removal of plaque results in complete resolution of the inflammatory lesion
What is periodontitis?
Chronic multifactorial inflammatory disease associated with bacterial dysbiosis
Progressive destruction of the tooth supporting structures seen
Leads to alveolar bone loss and tooth loss
What does the junctional epithelium do?
Separates internal systems from external environment
Permeable to bacteria passing into connective tissues and bloodstream
Permeable to products of internal defence passing outwards
Produces gingival crevicular fluid
What is GCF?
Assists the junctional epithelium to protect underlying tissues from bacterial damage
A serum transudate
During disease, many host/parasite products enter and it becomes a true exudate
How does plaque lead to periodontal disease?
Plaque accumulates and alters the oral environment
Causes gingivitis by inducing an inflammatory host response
Gingival inflammation forms a pocket which allows bacteria to colonise
Low O2 levels favours anaerobic bacteria
What bacteria are found in clinically healthy gingivae?
Gram positive rods and cocci which are facultatively anaerobic or aerobic
Eg - streptococci and Actinomyces
What kind of bacteria is found in periodontitis?
Predominately gram negative rods and spirochetes
Eg - Aa, P. gingivalis, T. denticola and T. forsythia
What kind of bacteria is found in gingivitis?
Gram positive cocci decrease and gram negative anaerobics increase
Eg - fusobacterium and actinomyces
Which 3 bacteria make up the red complex?
T. denticola
T. forsythia
P. gingivalis
Describe T. denticola and explain its virulence factor
Gram negative
Obligate anaerobe
Spirochete
Able to adhere to epithelial cells, releasing damaging enzymes into their ECM
Describe T. forsythia and explain its virulence factor
Gram negative
Obligate anaerobe
Spirilla (spindle shaped)
Cell surface proteolytic enzymes
Describe P. gingivalis and explain its virulence factors?
Gram negative
Rod shaped
Anaerobe
Produces collagenase enzyme which breaks down collagen in periodontal tissues
Degrades haemoglobin which releases iron preventing iron transport
Describe fusobacterium nucleatum and explain its virulence factors?
Gram negative
Anaerobic
Non motile
Cigarette shaped bacilli with sharp pointed ends
Adhesin A - allow for other species to adhere and colonise a host tissue they otherwise couldn’t
Endotoxin
Describe Aa and explain its virulence factors
Gram negative
Capnophilic
Coccobacilus
Produces leukotoxin which can kill WBCs by forming pores causing its contents to be released
What are virulence factors?
Mechanisms used by pathogens to cause damage to host tissues
How does the innate immune response act against the biofilm?
Intact epithelium - physical barrier
Saliva - antimicrobial effects via salivary IgA, salivary peroxidases, lysozyme and lactoferrin
GCF - washes out non-adherent bacteria
Cellular component - includes neutrophils and macrophages
How does the adaptive immune response act against the biofilm?
B cells produce antibodies that neutralise bacterial toxins and tag bacteria for destruction
T-helper cells produce cytokines, assist in the differentiation of B cells to plasma cells and activate neutrophils and macrophages
List 5 ways perio disease can present clinically in smokers
Any from:
- higher probing depths and more sites with deep pockets
- greater loss of alveolar bone
- 2-4 times more likely to have furcation involvement
- greater gingival recession
- fewer bleeding sites on probing
- greater calculus formation
- reduced response to tx when compared to non-smokers
What are the steps for smoking cessation advice?
Ask
Advise
Assess
Assist
Arrange
What is a normal HbA1C?
Below 42mmol/mol or below 6%
What is the HbA1c for prediabetes?
42-47mmol/mol or 6-6.4%
What is the HbA1c for diabetes?
48mmol/mol or over, or 6.5% or over
How does diabetes affect periodontitis?
Bi-directional relationship (NSTx can improve glycaemic control)
Poor glycaemic control = greater periodontal tissue destruction
Reduced chemotaxis of neutrophils
Decreased collagen synthesis so poor tx response
Diabetes complicates wound healing
Name 3 risk factors for gingival inflammation and enlargement
Pregnancy - pregnancy epulis and increased oestrogen and progesterone
Puberty - increased inflammatory response to plaque
Medications
Name 4 drugs that can cause gingival enlargement
Calcium channel blockers eg - amlodipine for hypertension
Phenytoin for epilepsy
Ciclosporin - anti-rejection drug
Oral contraceptive pill
Name 5 other systemic risk factors for periodontal disease?
Any from:
- family history of periodontal disease
- stress
- diet - increased glucose and lipid uptake
- age - increases with age
- obesity
- osteoporosis
- rheumatoid arthritis
What is the role of the plaque biofilm?
Acts as a shield protecting the microorganisms against inflammatory and immune systems as well as from chemical agents
Give 5 examples of plaque retentive factors
Calculus
Crowding
Overhanging restorations
Poorly designed RPDs
Root furcation
How much weight should be used when recording a BPE?
20-25g
When should a simplified BPE be used and what does it record?
Ages 7-11
Codes 0-2 to screen for bleeding and presence of local plaque retentive factors
Describe tx for BPE 0,1 or 2
0 and 1 - OHI and toothbrushing instruction
2 - OHI and supragingival PMPR
Risk factor modification
Describe tx for a code 3 BPE
Supra and sub gingival PMPR
OHI
6 point pocket chart in that sextant only
Risk factor modification
Radiographs as required
Describe tx for a code 4 BPE
Full mouth 6PPC, then begin periodontal therapy, then repeat pocket chart 3/12
Radiographs visualising alveolar bone crest
What is the difference between marginal bleeding and bleeding from the base of the pocket?
Gingival margin is linked to inadequate OH
Base of the pocket indicates presence of active periodontal disease
Why is plaque and marginal bleeding monitored regularly?
Allows understanding of initial level of plaque control and inflammation
Enables response to tx to be objectively monitored and can be helpful for motivation
Determines if pt is periodontal stable and if engaging
What is probing depth?
Distance from gingival margin to the base of the pocket
What is gingival recession?
When the gingival margin becomes apical to the CEJ
What is clinical attachment loss and how is it calculated?
Combines pocket depth and gingival recession to give an overall indication of where the periodontal tissues attach to the root surface
The pocket depth is added to the position of the gingival margin
What are the bands on a Naber’s probe?
3-6mm
9-12mm
What are the furcation involvement grades?
1 - involvement less than 1/3 of tooth width
2 - loss of support exceeds 1/3 but not the total width of the furcation
3 - probe can pass through the entire furcation
What are the grades of mobility?
0 - 0.1-0.2mm, normal physiological mobility
1 - up to 1mm movement in horizontal direction
2 - between 1-2mm movement in a horizontal direction
3 - >2mm horizontal, and vertical mobility, rotation, impinges on function
What should be assessed on radiographs for periodontal disease?
Root length and morphology
Level of alveolar bone and remaining bone support
PDL space and periapical region
Furcation involvement of multi-rooted teeth
Restorations, decay and calculus