Periodontitis – symptoms you should not ignore

Periodontitis develops over years and for most of that time it does not hurt. That is its greatest treachery – patients come in only when their teeth start to move, and by then some tissue is already lost for good. It is worth knowing the earlier signals.

Symptoms that should prompt a visit

• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing – this is not normal, even if it has been happening for years.
• Redness, swelling or tenderness of the gums.
• Receding gums – the teeth look longer than they used to.
• Sensitivity of exposed tooth necks.
• Persistent bad breath despite good hygiene.
• Teeth drifting apart, changing position or the way they bite together.
• Loose teeth – an already advanced symptom.

Gum inflammation at an early stage is fully reversible. Left untreated, however, it progresses into periodontitis, in which the bone surrounding the roots is lost – and the body will not rebuild that on its own.

What treatment looks like

Treating periodontal disease is one of my main specialisations. Management always begins with comprehensive diagnostics, which make it possible to determine how advanced the disease is and to plan appropriate periodontal treatment. Depending on the situation we use:

• Scaling and root planing – cleaning the root surfaces of plaque and subgingival calculus.
• Closed and open curettage – removing inflamed tissue from periodontal pockets.
• Periodontal tissue regeneration (GTR) – rebuilding lost supporting structures.
• Gum plastic surgery and connective tissue grafts – covering recessions and restoring a correct gum contour.

When conventional treatment is no longer enough

Sometimes a patient comes in at a stage where the teeth are already very loose and periodontal treatment cannot save them. That does not mean a removable denture is the only way out.

Modern implantology makes it possible to regain fixed, comfortable teeth even when traditional periodontal treatment is no longer effective. With solutions such as All-on-X you can eat, speak and smile freely again – without compromises.

Why combining periodontology and implantology matters

Implant treatment in patients with periodontal disease is particularly demanding. Effective treatment is treatment that combines advanced implant surgery with deep knowledge of the periodontal tissues.

As a periodontology specialist, I first take care of the condition of the gums and bone. Only an implant placed in a healthy, inflammation-free environment has a chance to serve for many years. Understanding the biology of the tissues around the implant allows us to use solutions that minimise the risk of peri-implantitis – inflammation around implants, the most common long-term cause of their loss.

Periodontal knowledge also has an aesthetic dimension. Implantology is not only about “white” teeth, it is also about the “pink” aesthetics of the gums – periodontal techniques make it possible to shape the gum line precisely so that the new smile looks natural and harmonious.