Is gum recession the same as periodontitis?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on November 18, 2024
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Gingival recession is not true periodontitis. Periodontitis is an inflammation of the periodontal supporting tissues, primarily clinically manifested as gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontitis, characterized by bleeding during brushing or eating, disappearance of the normal shape or state of the gums, and symptoms such as red and swollen gums, pus discharge, and disappearance of the papillae. The presence of dental calculus, soft plaque, and bacterial plaque around the teeth are stimulants, suggesting these are indicators of periodontitis. Gingival recession may be a temporary phenomenon due to reasons such as occlusion. Severe gingival recession can cause exposure of the tooth root surfaces, leading to sensitivity of the roots. If periodontitis has already caused the teeth to become loose, it is necessary to promptly proceed with guided bone regeneration.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Is periodontitis serious?

Periodontitis is a development of gingivitis. To determine the severity of periodontitis, an X-ray of the teeth is required to check for pathological bone resorption in the alveolar bone. If the symptoms are limited to the gingival tissue, such as simple gingival bleeding, brushing bleeding, gingival swelling, or pus discharge, it can be managed by dental cleaning or ultrasonic scaling, followed by medicated irrigation around the gums to improve the inflammation. If subgingival calculus is present, it might also be addressed with scaling or root planing to remove the calculus. If there is significant alveolar bone resorption due to severe periodontitis, the condition is serious and may require guided bone regeneration surgery. In severe cases, tooth extraction may be necessary.

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
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Does incision and drainage for periodontitis hurt?

When there is excessive pus, an incision and drainage needs to be performed. Periodontitis is a pathological condition of the dental supporting tissues caused by both dental plaque and tartar, resulting from poor oral hygiene, incomplete brushing, and the accumulation of dental plaque and tartar, which irritates the gum tissues and causes inflammation. If there is excessive pus, it is necessary to go to a regular hospital's dental department for incision and drainage. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, which is painless. The area is repeatedly rinsed with hydrogen peroxide and saline, treated with iodine glycerin, and oral medications such as cephalosporins and metronidazole are taken. Use compound povidone-iodine solution for mouth rinsing. Once the inflammation is controlled, systematic periodontal treatment can be performed, including supragingival cleaning, subgingival scaling, root planing. Regular oral hygiene should be maintained, brushing teeth in the morning and evening, rinsing the mouth after meals, and learning to use dental floss sticks. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Does periodontitis require root canal treatment?

Periodontitis is an inflammation of the tooth-supporting tissues caused by the lack of timely brushing and rinsing after eating, where food residues or soft plaque become calculus under the calcification of saliva. This condition requires tooth cleaning, which is a procedure performed around the teeth, and does not require root canal treatment. If periodontitis progresses further and bacteria from the periodontal pocket reach the root tip, it can cause inflammation around the tooth including the root tip. This may lead to a pathological condition of the dental nerve. If the root tip inflammation is caused by the retrograde action of periodontitis, root canal treatment is necessary because it affects the dental nerve. If there is no concurrent inflammation of the dental nerve, direct periodontal treatment can be performed. However, if retrograde root tip inflammation has occurred, then root canal treatment of the tooth is required.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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What should I do if my face swells from periodontitis?

If periodontitis has already caused facial swelling, active treatment can be targeted at the periodontitis. First, if there are large deposits of tartar on the crown of the tooth, these should be removed using ultrasonic cleaning to eliminate the tartar and suppress the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria. Then, manually scrape the tartar, diseased bone, and granulation tissue attached to the root surface of the gums and thoroughly rinse with hydrogen peroxide solution. If an abscess has already formed in the periodontal area, it needs to be incised under local anesthesia, then drain it using a rubber strip, and treat with systemic antibiotics such as cephalosporins or nitroimidazole drugs to alleviate the patient’s condition.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Can periodontitis be cured?

Periodontitis is divided into early and late stages. Early periodontitis can be cured, while late periodontitis is difficult to treat and may require tooth extraction if severe. Periodontitis is an inflammatory, destructive resorption that occurs in the periodontal supporting tissues. There are usually significant amounts of dental calculus and plaque around the teeth. The initial treatment involves removing these through teeth cleaning. After cleaning, applying medication through rinsing around the gums can be helpful, and in many cases, this can lead to a cure. Generally, early periodontitis does not involve noticeable absorption of the alveolar bone. However, in advanced stages, the formation of periodontal pockets and absorption of the alveolar or jaw bone represent severe manifestations of periodontitis. If it is difficult to maintain or restore oral health through basic treatment in such cases, tooth extraction may be necessary.