Introduction to Periodontology

Question 1

What does the periodontium consist of?

Answer 1

4 hard and soft tissues whose job is to support teeth:

• gingiva
• alveolar bone
• root cementum
• periodontal ligament

Question 2

What is periodontitis?

Answer 2

inflammation of the supporting tissue of the teeth triggered by the accumulation of plaque around the teeth

Question 3

What are the 3 main parts of periodontal treatment?

Answer 3

Importance of communication to try and change the patients behaviour by counselling them on their oral hygiene habits to improve plaque control
Providing smoking sensation and medical advice regarding periodontal disease
Mechanism removal of plaque and calculus deposits - basis for the treatment

Question 4

How can periodontal surgery help the mouth?

Answer 4

Offered to patients with advanced disease.
Gum flap is raised in preparation for surgery.
Diseased gum is removed .

Can do gum graft surgery to replace the gum. Increases thickness and width of the gum adjacent to the roots.

Question 5

Why is periodontology important?

Answer 5

• Periodontitis is highly prevalent and the prevalence is increasing worldwide
• Periodontitis is the number one cause of tooth loss
• Impaired oral functions: Difficulty in eating, swallowing and speaking
• Negatively impact on quality of life
• Links to a myriad of systemic diseases: e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes
• Periodontitis is a public health concern in an ageing population
• Periodontal health is the foundation of good preventative / restorative dentistry (first thing to address before reconstructive work)

Question 6

Give 3 clinical signs of healthy gingiva

Answer 6

1. Pink
2. Scalloping
3. Strippling of the attached gingiva

Question 7

How does gingivitis show in the mouth?

Answer 7

Redness, swelling, absence of stripling on attached gingiva, bleeding on probing and brushing.

Question 8

What is periodontitis?

Answer 8

Periodontitis is a chronic, irreversible inflammatory condition affecting the supporting tissues of the teeth. It can lead to permanent damage once there is bone loss.

Question 9

What are some signs of periodotitis?

Answer 9

• all signs of gingivitis
• pocket formation
• gingival recession
• tooth mobility
• tooth drifting
• halitosis
• bone loss
• uneven gum line

Question 10

What joins the cementum and the alveolar bone?

Answer 10

Periodontal ligament