WHAT IS PERIODONTOLOGY AND HOW IS IT APPLIED?
Periodontology is a branch of dentistry that examines the health and disease conditions of the teeth and the tissues around them, and aims to diagnose and treat the diseases that occur in these tissues and to protect the health obtained after treatment.
Gum diseases cover a wide area from simple gingivitis (gingivitis) to severe infections (periodontitis) where the jaw bones melt and teeth are lost by shaking. With diseases, the gums swell, redden, bleed, recede; teeth lengthen; bad breath occurs; The teeth are displaced, spaced apart and eventually lost. Gingival bleeding, which is one of the most important symptoms of gum disease and can be easily noticed by the patient, sometimes occurs spontaneously while brushing teeth, eating hard foods.
These diseases are usually chronic diseases. Although the disease is present, it may not be noticed for a while because there is usually no pain. If the gums are bleeding and enlarged, if there are calculus, sometimes the gums are pulled and the teeth are elongated, some teeth are displaced and gaping, if the teeth are wobbly, if there is a bad taste and bad smell in the mouth, you should definitely go to a gum disease specialist.
The main purpose of periodontal treatment is to keep hopeless, unhealthy teeth in the mouth. Different treatment methods are applied according to the type and severity of the disease. These; First of all, it can be simply summarized as oral hygiene education, calculus removal, root surface straightening, regenerative, reconstructive and mucogingival operations. At the same time, providing gingival aesthetics of individuals with a high smile line is also within the scope of periodontal treatment. The type and severity of the disease; The patient's habits and cooperation with the physician directly affect the standard of oral hygiene, treatment planning and success.
TREATMENT
The first stage of the treatment is the cleaning of the dental plaque, which is the main factor of the disease, by the patient using a brush / dental floss / interface brush and the removal of the deposits on the teeth by the dentist with special tools. This stage, called initial treatment, is the basis of periodontal procedures. Scaling cleaning can be a stand-alone treatment method in simple gingival inflammations, as well as in preparation for periodontal operation in advanced cases.
When new bone formation is targeted, auxiliary biomaterials (bone powder, membrane, etc.) The surgical procedures in which it is used are called “periodontal operation”.
Periodontal treatment is a dental service with the highest level of patient satisfaction and definite results when early diagnosis and necessary interventions are made. It should be noted that no restorative treatment can be applied to periodontally unhealthy teeth.
PERIODONTOLOGY
Maxillofacial surgery includes pathologies such as cysts and tumors related to the mouth and teeth, tooth and jaw fractures, removal or maintenance of impacted teeth in the jawbone, corrections made in the hard and soft tissues of the mouth to assist in the construction of prosthesis. Maxillofacial pain, lower jaw joint diseases and salivary gland disorders are also within the scope of maxillofacial surgery. At the same time, the detection and treatment of the symptoms of some systemic diseases in the mouth is also included in the field of study.
In recent years, there are also advanced implant surgery applications such as placing implants in the jaw, which are frequently applied in dentistry, and placing bone grafts in cases where there is not enough bone for the implant.
Another subject within the field of study of maxillofacial surgery is congenital or acquired maxillofacial anomalies. These include frequently encountered clefts of the lip-palate, situations where chewing function and aesthetics are impaired due to the positioning of the lower or upper jaw forward or behind.
DIAGNOSTIC METHODS
In maxillofacial surgery, traditional diagnostic methods such as x-rays are used, as well as advanced techniques supported by tomography and a full-size three-dimensional bone model of the patient is obtained. In this way, a definitive diagnosis can be made before the operation and the operation plan can be made exactly. In order to be successful during diagnosis and treatment, it is necessary to work multidisciplinary with other specialties of dentistry such as orthodontics.
METHODS OF TREATMENT
Surgical procedures related to oral and maxillofacial diseases can be performed under local anesthesia (regional numbing) or under general anesthesia. The patients are kept under observation by being hospitalized after major surgical procedures. In the application of surgical procedures, the comfort of the patients, their existing diseases, their anxiety and fear from the treatment are taken into consideration first and the patients are treated accordingly.