Can periodontitis be cured?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on February 07, 2025
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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.

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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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Symptoms of periodontitis pain

When a patient suffers from periodontitis, it means that the periodontal tissues are in an inflammatory phase. The inflamed gum tissue may exhibit symptoms such as redness, pain, and a relatively soft texture. Touching it may cause bleeding. Some patients may experience pus discharge and loosening of teeth, which are common symptoms of periodontitis. As the condition progresses, the spaces between teeth may increase, eventually leading to shrinkage of the gum tissue, loosening of teeth, or even tooth loss. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with periodontitis seek timely medical attention at a reputable dental hospital and take appropriate measures. Additionally, it is essential for patients to maintain correct tooth brushing methods and develop proper oral hygiene habits in their daily lives.

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How is periodontitis treated at the dentist?

The treatment plan for periodontitis and caries requires first taking an X-ray to understand the severity of the periodontitis. If the periodontitis is not severe and is merely inflammation of the gum tissue, characterized by red, swollen gums, pus discharge, or bleeding, this situation can be addressed by dental cleaning to remove local irritants, followed by medicated rinsing around the gums to improve inflammation. If the periodontitis is more severe, involving absorption of the alveolar bone, then guided bone regeneration procedures are necessary. After basic treatment of the periodontitis, the teeth enter a maintenance phase, requiring regular follow-up visits.

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What to do if periodontitis causes a fever?

Periodontitis is an inflammation of the gums and oral cavity. When a patient has periodontitis, they may experience pain and swelling. When the inflammation is severe, the patient may have a slight fever. In such cases, it is generally recommended that the patient take oral antibiotics effective against anaerobic bacteria, such as metronidazole or tinidazole, as well as anti-inflammatory antibiotics like amoxicillin, cephalosporins, levofloxacin, or erythromycin. If fever occurs, it is recommended that the patient take antipyretic analgesics, such as ibuprofen sustained-release tablets or acetaminophen tablets, which can relieve pain and reduce fever. If the periodontitis is severe, it is advised that the patient should promptly visit a hospital and follow a doctor’s guidance to develop an appropriate treatment plan. (Note: The use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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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.