Periodontitis: The red danger

Inflammation of the tooth bed endangers the teeth. And everything else.

A skeleton comes to the dentist. The dentist says:”Your teeth are fine, but your gums worry me…” You like the joke, but wonder what he’s doing here? More than you think. This is because it unintentionally marks a serious trend: caries has been declining among dental diseases in Germany for years and periodontitis is on the increase.

Periodontitis is a malicious widespread disease

But what is periodontitis? It occurs when an inflammation of the gums develops pockets between it and the tooth root, in which bacteria can thrive perfectly. Once the infection has spread to the bone and connective tissue, it is referred to as periodontitis: the periodontium is chronically inflamed, the jaw recedes, the necks of the teeth are exposed and the teeth become loose.

The treacherous thing about periodontitis is that it develops slowly and is often not recognised in time. The consequence: about every second adult has them to a different extent. Without proper analysis and treatment, those affected run the risk of losing their teeth. That is why Dr. Mateo Hermel devotes much meticulous attention to the widespread disease periodontitis. This can already be seen in the extensive anamnesis: stress, lifestyle, medication, increased sugar levels, immune deficiencies, family background – all this influences the periodontal tissue and must be clarified in a discussion.

High tech against periodontitis

Only then does Dr. Hermel analyze the mouth. How deep are the bags? Is the bone affected? Is there an aggressive inflammation? He uses probes, panoramic x-rays and a lot of experience to determine the optimal treatment. They only use gentle high-tech instruments. For example, ultrasound devices that clean the tooth bed virtually painlessly, protect the mucous membranes and penetrate to areas of periodontitis that could not previously be treated without surgery.

The importance of a trained eye and a sustainable periodontal treatment is shown at another point: Teeth are weak points in the mucous membrane system that protects us from bacteria. If gum pockets have formed, they can cause pathogens to enter the bloodstream. Anyone who believes that this happens in negligible dimensions is wrong: with an average periodontitis, all the centres of inflammation together form an area the size of the palm of the hand – and thus a dramatic entry point for germs that cause inflammation in the body.

Periodontitis as a focus of systemic diseases

Studies have confirmed for some time that periodontitis interacts with many diseases. For example, arteriosclerosis: The same bacteria that are active in the inflamed gums are also found in the deposits of blocked vessels, the biggest risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Inflammation of the tooth bed increases the risk for them by a factor of three. In return, studies show that periodontal therapy can improve vascular health.

Dangers also lurk for pregnant women in whom periodontitis can cause premature births, for the joints, which become susceptible to rheumatism and arthritis, or for diabetics: periodontitis can make diabetes mellitus worse and progress faster. Those who successfully treat the periodontium, on the other hand, help to normalize derailed blood sugar levels.