Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is often more commonly known as gum disease. According to Perio.org; the definition for chronic periodontitis is: a result in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. Periodonal disease affects mostly adults, but is not confined to the adult population and can occur in children as well.

Porphyromonas gingivalis which is pronounced, pour-fy-roh-mo-nas ging-jih-val-lis, is one of the leading bacteria found in the mouth of a patient with periodontal disease. Porphyromomas gingivalis is a gram negative obligate anaerobe; which means this bacteria species stains red in a laboratory test called gram staining. Gram staining is a simple test that reveals all different types of bacteria’s properties. Let’s take for example, Porphyromonas gingivalis. Since it stains as a red bacterium, it is call gram negative; these bacteria have a double cell membrane and are believed to play an important role in tissue destruction associated with periodontitis. Porphyromomas gingivalis is also an anaerobe; this means that the bacteria cannot live in the presence of any oxygen what so ever. Another characteristic of P. gingivalis is that it is a non-motile bacteria; non-motile means that they do not move. ( Foundations of Periodontics for the Dental Hygienist: Textbook) 

Porphyromonas gingivalis is found in nearly everyone’s mouth, just at different levels. Patients with low numbers of P. gingivalis are associated with have healthy gingival tissue or gingivitis with no destruction. On the other hand, if a patient has a much higher amount of P. gingivalis detected they are more likely to suffer from periodontal tissue destruction.

Oxford Journals states that: Porphyromoas gingivalis is most generally found in the sub gingival plaque of patients with periodontal disease. However, the bacterium has also been reported in other oral sites such as: the tonsils, periotonsillar abscesses, saliva and root canals. There have been a low number of reports on the separation of P. gingivalis from patients with infections found outside the oral cavity.

            Treatment of periodontal disease and lowering the number of P. gingivalis that is in the oral cavity is as follows. There are two treatment options depending on how severe the case is. One is non-surgical treatment and the other is surgical treatment. In the majority of cases, non-surgical treatment is what is generally required. Non-surgical treatment consists of a procedure called scaling and root planning. This is a deep cleaning below the gum line, which usually requires local anesthesia to numb the gums. During to procedure the dental profession will remove, plaque, tarter and bacterium such as P. gingivalis. A quick break down: plaque is the white stick substance that you use a toothbrush for to remove daily. If the plaque is not removed it hardens and then is referred to as tarter. Tarter can only be removed by a dental professional with their special instruments.  Surgical treatment can entitle many things. To name a few: bone grafts, soft tissue grafts, bone surgery and pocket reduction surgery. These surgical treatment considerations are extremely severe and complicated, all other options should be review before resorting to surgical treatment of periodontal diseases, but unfortunately it is require in some cases.

            Periodontal disease can be prevented with good oral hygiene home care and regular dental check-ups!