Is gum recession the same as periodontitis?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on November 18, 2024
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Gingival recession is not true periodontitis. Periodontitis is an inflammation of the periodontal supporting tissues, primarily clinically manifested as gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontitis, characterized by bleeding during brushing or eating, disappearance of the normal shape or state of the gums, and symptoms such as red and swollen gums, pus discharge, and disappearance of the papillae. The presence of dental calculus, soft plaque, and bacterial plaque around the teeth are stimulants, suggesting these are indicators of periodontitis. Gingival recession may be a temporary phenomenon due to reasons such as occlusion. Severe gingival recession can cause exposure of the tooth root surfaces, leading to sensitivity of the roots. If periodontitis has already caused the teeth to become loose, it is necessary to promptly proceed with guided bone regeneration.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Does periodontitis need treatment?

Gingivitis is an inflammatory reaction of the tissues surrounding the teeth, clinically manifested as gingivitis or periodontitis. Symptoms include bleeding while eating or brushing teeth. Periodontitis needs to be treated early and can be managed by dental cleaning to remove local irritative factors. Dental calculus is divided into supragingival calculus and subgingival calculus. Supragingival calculus can be removed by dental cleaning, while subgingival calculus requires subgingival scaling. Early treatment of periodontitis can preserve the teeth; if not treated promptly, periodontitis may further lead to the resorption of the alveolar bone, requiring tooth extraction in severe cases.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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What should I do if my face swells from periodontitis?

If periodontitis has already caused facial swelling, active treatment can be targeted at the periodontitis. First, if there are large deposits of tartar on the crown of the tooth, these should be removed using ultrasonic cleaning to eliminate the tartar and suppress the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria. Then, manually scrape the tartar, diseased bone, and granulation tissue attached to the root surface of the gums and thoroughly rinse with hydrogen peroxide solution. If an abscess has already formed in the periodontal area, it needs to be incised under local anesthesia, then drain it using a rubber strip, and treat with systemic antibiotics such as cephalosporins or nitroimidazole drugs to alleviate the patient’s condition.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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Will periodontitis exude pus?

Patients with periodontitis also experience symptoms of pus discharge. Periodontitis is usually caused by bacterial invasion of the periodontal tissues, leading to chronic inflammation of these tissues. Clinical symptoms mainly include swollen gums, loose teeth, and pus discharge from periodontal pockets. This disease is relatively common among adult males, especially those over the age of 35, who have a very high incidence of periodontitis. The treatment of the disease involves removing tartar and bacterial plaque, eliminating irritant factors, and then using medications. Medications such as topical metronidazole, as well as tetracycline and penicillin antibiotics, have a clear effect on the treatment of periodontitis. (Please follow medical advice when using medications.)

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What department should I go to for periodontitis?

Periodontitis is an inflammatory reaction that occurs in the supporting tissues of the periodontium, commonly presenting as gingivitis or periodontitis in clinical settings. Gingivitis, the early stage of periodontitis, is caused by food residues left after eating, which calcify under the action of saliva to form tartar. This tartar further irritates and causes inflammation of the gingival or periodontal tissues. Initially, one should visit the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department for this condition. If the specialties are further divided, one can consult the oral medicine department under ENT. If oral medicine is further subdivided, a visit to the periodontal department is necessary. Therefore, for detailed treatment of periodontitis, it is advisable to visit the periodontology department within the oral specialties to undergo teeth cleaning followed by gingival medication to improve the symptoms of periodontitis.

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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.