Periodontal pocket: inflammation and treatment

Improper care of the oral cavity leads to the appearance of plaque and stones. As a result of pathological processes, inflammation begins. At first his symptoms are quite harmless. There is a slight bleeding gums, swelling, and sometimes soreness. Gradually, the mobility of the teeth increases, possibly the appearance of a purulent secretion. At this stage, we already talk about neglected periodontitis. To cure this disease, the curettage of the periodontal pocket is used. What is this procedure? What other methods are used to combat the disease? The answers to these questions can be found in today's article.

Brief description of the problem

Against the background of the inflammatory process, bone tissue is gradually destroyed and replaced by granulation. The latter consists mainly of osteoclasts and microbial elements. Day by day, they spread to all new areas, leading to an even greater atrophy of the alveolar bone. There is a free area where there is no fixation of the gum to the surface of the tooth root.

As a result of the described changes, the periodontal pocket is formed. This space is equal in size to the area of the destroyed bone. Its contents are represented by a granulation tissue, food remnants and a purulent secret. By the size of the formed gap, the degree of deformation of the tissues is judged. In a healthy person, the depth of the periodontal pockets is no more than 3 mm, so that the cavity can be cleaned unobstructed from food debris. If this value exceeds the specified size, there are certain difficulties in caring for the oral cavity. The probability of inflammation of the gums increases several times, which leads to the appearance of stone and plaque. The result of active tissue destruction can be a tooth loss.

Diagnosis of pathology is carried out by means of X-ray examination or a periodontist probe. The lack of quality treatment over time leads to a deepening of the pocket. The consequence of this process is the movement of the teeth into a "fan" position.

Reasons for pocket formation

The main reason for the formation of the periodontal canal is poor oral hygiene. Incorrect brushing of teeth or lack of teeth leads to accumulation of bacterial deposits in the crown area. On the entire surface of the enamel of the tooth, microbes form a thin invisible film and begin to release products of their own vital activity. This is the inflammation of the periodontal pocket.

Risk group

Among the factors that provoke the growth and reproduction of pathogenic flora, it can be noted:

• Improper diet, consisting mainly of carbohydrate products;
• Poor oral hygiene;
• Pernicious habits;
• Disorders at the hormonal level;
• immunodeficiency;
• Dental diseases;
• malocclusion;
• Poor-quality installation of the seal.

Symptoms of inflammation

The formation of the periodontal pocket can be asymptomatic for a long time. With the development of the inflammatory process, a characteristic clinical picture appears:

• Discomfort in the gum area;
• Bad breath;
• Puffiness, bleeding and redness of the gums;
• At a palpation probably allocation of a purulent secret;
• Widening of the interdental spaces;
• Worsening of the general condition.

If you have any of these problems, contact your dentist. A doctor's help is required even if the inflammatory process has affected only one tooth. Every day the situation will only worsen, which can lead to the progression of the disease.

Methods of treatment

Before the beginning of therapy, the diagnosis is performed, with the help of which the doctor determines the degree of neglect of the disease. If the periodontal pocket does not exceed 0.15 mm and there are no signs of inflammation, therapeutic methods are used. The following procedures are usually used:

1. Hygienic cleaning with ultrasound. During removal of the stone and plaque, the gum is not damaged.
2. Drug treatment. Assigned immediately after ultrasonic cleaning. At an easy degree of pathological process, aseptic treatment (baths, irrigation, rinsing) is used. During the procedures apply "Chlorhexidine" or "Miramistin". In particularly serious cases, the patient is given a course of antibiotics. The most effective are the following drugs: "Amoxicillin", "Lincomycin" and "Azithromycin".

The above procedures are ineffective if the depth of the pocket is more than 2 mm. The doctor can not completely remove the accumulated stone. In addition, the likelihood of additional traumatization of periodontal disease increases. As a result of the manipulations, the inflammatory process and tissue destruction begin to progress.

If the disease is complicated, surgical intervention is recommended. This method of treatment implies the mechanical impact of dental instruments on the subgingival areas. Currently, the most effective procedure of this type is curettage of the periodontal pocket. What it is? There are several types of manipulation: closed, open and patchwork operation. The procedure itself allows you to get rid of all the problems caused by periodontitis. Let's consider each of its variants in more detail.

Open curettage

Such intervention requires a doctor of high professionalism. Therefore, this service is not provided in all medical institutions. The duration of the procedure is about 2.5 hours. It consists of the following stages:

1. Cleaning teeth from stone and plaque.
2. Use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
3. Splinting of mobile teeth.
4. Dissection of the gingival flap with a scalpel.
5. Removal of granulations and stones with ultrasound.
6. Antiseptic treatment of the roots of the tooth.
7. Placement in a pocket of synthetic tissue to enhance the growth of natural bone.
8. Sealing and closing of the damaged area with a gingival dressing.

After about 1.5 weeks, the seams are removed. A few months later, the final restoration of damaged tissues. The gingival papilla can completely cover the gaps between the teeth. In some cases, open curettage of periodontal pockets leads to the denudation of the roots. Therefore, for some time it is recommended to refrain from consuming hot, sour and cold food.

Closed curettage

The operation is effective at a pocket depth of 3-5 mm. Intervention is not difficult. It consists of the following stages:

1. Examination of the gums.
2. Introduction of local anesthesia.
3. Treatment of periodontal pockets without dissection of the gum.
4. Polishing of the roots of the tooth.

Intervention can simultaneously affect 2-3 teeth. Wound healing takes place in one week, but it takes about a month to complete the restoration. So much time is needed to form connective tissue and attach the gum to the tooth. The main disadvantage of the procedure is that the doctor at the time of manipulation does not see if all pathological formations have been removed.

If the depth of the pocket is more than 5 mm, the closed curettage only will stop the progression of periodontitis. Partial removal of sediments and granulations allows you to get a temporary respite, but in almost all cases the ailment resumes its development.

Patchwork operation

This surgical intervention involves the dissection of the gum to gain access to the periodontal pocket. It is recommended if its dimensions do not exceed 4 mm.

First, the doctor makes two small incisions with a scalpel and exfoliates the muco-peri-lateral flap. The standard mechanical cleaning of the pocket and polishing of the tooth surface are then carried out. After the treatment of hard surfaces is completed, soft tissue preparations are switched over. The flaps are put in place. At the end of the procedure, the osteogenic drug is applied to the affected area, and the gum is sewn up. The whole operation lasts no more than 40 minutes, but implies the use of local anesthesia.

Some patients are additionally prescribed wound-healing agents for external use (eg "Furacilin"). Also recommend the use of ointments to stimulate the process of epithelialization of the gums ("Actovegin", "Solcoseryl").

Vacuum curettage

In the presence of purulent abscesses and deep pockets (more than 5-7 mm), vacuum curettage is used. Cleaning is carried out with the use of anesthetics. During this procedure, the doctor first scrapes the deposits of the stone, and then polishes the tooth tissue. After this, the specialist begins to remove granulations and damaged epithelium from the inner walls. The parodontal pocket is cleaned with a vacuum device that from the bottom of the cavity sucks the necrotic masses along with the stone fragments. At the final stage, washing with antiseptic preparations is mandatory.

Vacuum curettage is characterized by high efficiency. The procedure restores the lymph flow in the tissues, decreases the depth of the gingival pockets and eliminates all inflammatory processes.

Postoperative period

In order not to open periodontal pockets, within 10 hours after all manipulations it is recommended to refuse food and drink. To obtain the desired result, you should carefully brush your teeth, while using a soft-nosed brush. The problem zone must be avoided. After a week, you can start rinsing. To do this, use a weak saline solution or "Chlorhexidine".

With regard to nutrition, first preference should be given to soft or wiped food. It is strictly forbidden to drink cold or excessively hot drinks. For a week after curettage periodontal pockets it is recommended to abandon physical activities, exercise, visiting the sauna. In the postoperative period, it is important to monitor the condition of the oral cavity. You can use hygiene products designed for sensitive teeth. If necessary, you need to contact the dentist. The specialist will select procedures to reduce the sensitivity of the neck of the teeth.

Patient Reviews and Price of Services

The cost of services for the treatment of periodontal pockets on the territory of Russia varies slightly. Among the main factors that affect pricing, we can mention the method of anesthesia and the technological capabilities of the medical institution. Not the last aspect is the status of the clinic. On average, the closed curettage of periodontal pockets costs in the range of 5-12 thousand rubles. The procedure for an open type is slightly more expensive (9-18 thousand rubles).

Most patients who have experienced this pathology prefer surgical intervention. In their opinion, the operation is the only way that can permanently get rid of the problem. It is better to resort to open type intervention. This technique allows not only to eliminate the damaged elements, but also to restore the lost bone with time. The only drawback of the procedure is a long healing period. Less painful is characterized by closed curettage of the periodontal pocket. The patient's feedback indicates that his help should be used only at the initial stage of the pathological process.

Opinions on therapeutic treatment diverge. Most patients do not recommend this method of solving the problem, since it allows only temporary relief of symptoms.

How dangerous is the inflammation of the pocket?

The parodontal pocket is a serious pathology that requires timely and competent treatment. The absence of therapy can lead to complications. Among them, the most dangerous is an acute abscess, which subsequently acquires a chronic course. It is characterized by an increase in the mobility of teeth and the appearance of pain syndrome. In this state, it becomes difficult for a person to chew food. Neglect of pathology over time leads to the fact that the tooth completely falls out of the alveolar cavity. The development of the inflammatory process ends with lymphadenitis and general intoxication of the body.

Prevention of recurrent disease

Do not ignore the inflamed periodontal pocket. Treatment, conducted in a timely manner, increases the chances of a full recovery. However, this does not mean that you can not go to the dentist now. After the course of therapy, it will be necessary to pay a visit to the doctor again, and the specialist himself sets the specific time, taking into account the neglect of the disease. On examination, the dentist will be able to determine the success of the treatment, give recommendations for oral care.

High-quality daily hygiene of teeth allows to avoid formation of a stone, to prevent inflammation in the periodontal pocket. It is not superfluous to consider professional cleaning of the oral cavity once a year in the dental center.