Why treatment for periodontitis before an implant is important

When periodontitis is detected late, this involves extracting irrecoverable teeth. These can then be replaced with dental implants, but it is very important to ensure that the patient receives treatment for periodontitis before these are inserted.

 

Inserting a dental implant after periodontitis treatment

 

Dental implant is a titanium or zirconium device in the form of a screw that is inserted into the jawbone to replace one or more teeth. Usually, dental implants will support a prosthetic work which, depending on the clinical situation, may be a dental crown or a dental bridge.

Dental implants should never be inserted before treatment for periodontitis, as the periodontopathogenic bacteria responsible for the onset of periodontal disease are also involved in the development of peri-implant diseases. Failure to treat the disease before the dental implant is inserted can lead to its compromise and loss, periimplantitis being the most common cause of dental implant treatment failure.

Just as gingivitis can occur around the teeth, dental implants can also be affected by conditions involving resorption of the alveolar bone around the teeth, such as mucositis and periimplantitis. 

 

Mucozita

Mucositis is a clinical manifestation characterized by inflammatory changes only in the peri-implant mucosa. It is a reversible process and, like gingivitis, if properly treated, will not degenerate into periimplantitis. However, in order to avoid the onset of this condition, it is best to treat periodontitis to ensure the elimination of periodontopathogenic bacteria.

 

Periimplantitis

Periimplantitis is the destructive inflammatory process that affects the gum and bone around dental implants. Unfortunately, like marginal periodontitisperiimplantitis and its early, mucositis phase are initially asymptomatic. Often, periimplantitis is discovered by the dentist during the consultation, so it is also very important for implant wearers to visit the dentist regularly for regular check-ups.

 

The symptoms of peri-implant disease are:

• color changes in the gums around the implant;
• Bleeding gums (touching or brushing);
• purulent discharge from the gingival sinus;
• Gingival retraction until the dental implant becomes visible;
• mobility of the dental implant and frequent pain in the affected area.

 

Although mucositis and peri-implantitis can be treated (the treatment is simpler or more complex depending on how advanced the disease is), the best treatment is always prevention. It is very important for the patient who will receive dental implants to have a very good oral hygiene both before and after the implants are inserted.

When the dentist or periodontist will indicate that there is a chronic inflammation of the gum (gingivitis) or, worse, a marginal periodontitis with the presence of periodontal pockets, it is absolutely vital that before the intervention a total and effective decontamination of the oral cavity is performed, with the help of periodontal treatment.

 

Treatment for periodontitis

 

A treatment for periodontitis may involve laser decontamination of the oral cavity, laser-assisted subgingival curettage or sometimes even open-field periodontal curettage, depending on how advanced the periodontal disease is. Laser is a very important element in this equation because through its bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, it accomplishes the decontamination that cannot be achieved only by classical mechanical treatment or by chemical treatment (which involves the use of antiseptic and disinfectant substances).

After the insertion of implants, the lack of oral hygiene, accompanied by the accumulation of bacterial plaque that is not removed soon, will lead to its mineralization and its transformation into dental tartar. Plaque and tartar are the main factors involved in gum inflammation. We should never think that if we have a dental implant we should neglect it, but we should give it a degree of attention similar to that given to natural teeth. And on the surface of the implant and dental crown can accumulate plaque and tartar.

 

Dental brushing

Brushing your teeth together with the use of a mouthwash and rinsing with mouthwash containing antiseptic substances are sufficient to maintain the implants and maintain oral health.

Very important are regular visits to the dentist, once every few months, depending on the period you have been indicated, so that clinical and radiological aspects can be analyzed and any problem can be identified at an early stage when its resolution is easier.

 

If you are in need of dental implants and periodontosis treatment, you can make an appointment online or by phone at +40.318.282.274