subject: Periodontics: Who They Are and What They Do [print this page] Periodontics: Who They Are and What They Do
Periodontics is that field of medicine which identifies and treats diseases relating to the holding structure of the teeth. The supporting structure of the teeth includes the tissues, gums and the jaw bones. The dentists who practice periodontics are called periodontists.
Periodontics is one of the nine specialties of dentistry to be approved by the American Dental Association because of wide range of diseases and problems relating to the gums and connective tissues. Periodontal diseases begin with the bleeding of the gums while brushing or eating and most of the people take it as a normal thing, but it can lead to serious health problems if not treated on time.
Periodontics offers healing services to swollen gums and bleeding teeth and even to illnesses caused by both these problems. Plaque on the teeth is the main factor for periodontal disease because the bacteria which causes plague to collect on the enamel of the teeth can spread below the gum line causing the gums to swell. The swelling gums detach themselves from the tooth building a gap, where the infections take place because the bacteria have empty space to reproduce and spread. Infections fabricate at a greater pace in the gaps present between the teeth and the gums because the bristles of a toothbrush can never reach there to clean any bacteria.
The accumulated plaque in the gaps becomes hard with time, forming tartar. Tartar weakens the tissues which connect the teeth with the gums, causing the tooth to loosen and come out. Since the tissues are also connected to the jaw bone, the infection can travel to the bone as well causing severe pain.
Periodontics tell us that any person with braces or wires are likely to start plaque on their teeth because the braces don't allow proper brushing and if a patient does not use special brush for braces, then his teeth are exposed to periodontal diseases.
Smokers are also affected by periodontal diseases because the consistent smoking of tobacco causes tartar to form in the gaps between the teeth and the gums and on the enamel of the teeth causing them to become yellow in color.
Similarly, poor nutrition, especially the deficiency of vitamin C may lead to bleeding gums. So consulting a periodontists is important for patients with related problems.
