If, as a child, was mostly afraid that caries will be determined during the dental control, it is much more often the common disease periodontitis in advanced age, with which patients present in the practices. If left untreated, this often underestimated disease can lead to serious symptoms and to tooth loss. In addition, periodontitis has a negative impact on general health-for example, it can favor diabetes and promote complications in cardiovascular diseases. If you suffer from periodontitis, you should take care of a timely and comprehensive therapy, as it also benefits general health. A suitable one Dental supplementary insurance Can help cover costs for high -quality treatments. Of course, it is even better if you don’t even create periodontitis. In the following, the development of illness and risk factors as well as possibilities of prevention and therapy are highlighted.
What is periodontitis? – Causes, course and symptoms
Periodontitis – inflammation of the tooth keeper – always goes gingivitis, colloquially gum inflammation, ahead; However, the diseases cannot be equated. In gingivitis, which is caused by bacteria and is favored by inadequate dental care, the gums are red and swollen and bleed. If the inflammation of the gums over to the tooth bed and bones, the clinical picture of periodontitis arises. The symptoms of gingivitis are intensified; In addition, the gums go back and the teeth start to wiggle. In the worst case, an untreated and/or particularly aggressive periodontitis can lead to tooth loss (s). If gingivitis is already recognized in good time and treated well by improved oral hygiene and possibly medication, it heals without parodontitis developing.
The main triggers for both gingivitis and periodontitis are bacterial coverings (plaques). They arise when teeth and especially interdental spaces are not sufficiently cleaned by leftovers. Bacteria occur naturally in the oral cavity – in combination with inadequate dental care, they cause the inflammatory reactions in which periodontitis arises. The inflammation attacks jawbones and root skin. Certain immunological processes that should actually serve to combat the bacteria then also lead to damage to the body’s tissue: the bone substance is broken down, the gums go back, the teeth are increasingly losing their hold.
Certain factors increase the likelihood that initially harmless gum inflammation becomes dangerous periodontitis. On the one hand, there are genetic disposition in many patients that they cannot influence, on the other hand, medical research has identified smoking and the presence of diabetes diseases as modifiable risk factors.
Periodontitis and the whole body – systemic risks
The dangers that go out from an unkindled or inadequate periodontitis extend far beyond the oral cavity and can affect the whole body. In the meantime, scientific studies have shown that there are clear relationships between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases as well as between periodontitis and diabetes.
Periodontitis as chronic inflammation of bacterial origin can not only trigger and reinforce further inflammation elsewhere, but the bacteria involved in the mouth of the infection can spread anywhere in the body. This bacterial scatter remains almost always without consequences in otherwise healthy people. However, bacteremia becomes dangerous if bacteria affect an already damaged heart skin and cause endocarditis. Endocarditis can run both symptoms and develop into severe and potentially life -threatening inflammation – as the course is, cannot be predicted. It is therefore important that parodontitis is treated consistently at the appropriate risk, with patients with increased risk of endocarditis in dental treatments and operational interventions in the mouth prophylactically to maintain an antibiotic.
The one is also for another reason Therapy of periodontitis relevant for heart health: The bacteria that come into the blood vessels can affect the function of the vessels and thereby increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
There are dangerous interactions between diabetes diseases and periodontitis-the two diseases can increase each other’s untreated. On the one hand, a non -or inadequately treated diabetes increases the risk of inflammation of the tooth keeper, while on the other hand, periodontitis favors insulin resistance, which can lead to more severe disease with increased mortality. Prophylaxis and timely treatment of periodontitis are therefore even more important for diabetics than for people with metabolic people.
Prevention and modern care: This is how periodontitis can be stopped
The best treatment of a disease is to prevent its origin, as far as possible. In the case of a disease such as type 1 diabetes, preventive preventive care is not possible, but with periodontitis. In addition to the right oral hygienein the toothpaste and toothbrush, dental floss (or interdental sticks) and antibacterial mouthwashes are used regularly, professional tooth cleaning is particularly relevant for prophylaxis. It must first be paid for herself; Some statutory health insurance companies subsidize this cleaning up to twice a year and reimburse some of the costs. Afterwards, the health of teeth and gums should be checked by the dentist. As part of the control, the periodontal screening index (PSI) provides information about the condition of the tooth keeper apparatus. With the help of PSI, gingivitis and periodontitis can be diagnosed and recommendations for any further therapy can be derived.
If the development of parodontitis could not be prevented despite prophylaxis, it should be treated as early as possible. For this purpose, dentists are essentially available to the following methods:
Closed curettage
During the closed curettage, the gum pockets (tooth necks and gums) are cleaned in a non-operational process of soft and hard coverings. For this, the dentist uses special hand instruments – the cuts to which the treatment method owes the name. Lasers or ultrasound can also be used for cleaning. The closed curettage is a tissue -protecting and relatively painless method, which is often sufficient in lighter to medium periodontitis to combat bacterially caused inflammation.
Open curettage
Once the periodontitis has progressed, an open curettage is required. This is an surgical intervention that is carried out under local anesthesia. The dentist cuts the gums with the scalpel to fold it up and thus be able to thoroughly clean the tooth neck and tooth root. Tissue suffering is also removed. Then the gums are sewn again.
Further therapy options and aftercare
Since periodontitis diseases are always related to bacterial infection, accompanying antibiotic therapy in the form of locally applicable antibiotics (mouthwash, gel) is often recommended. This can be supported with regular antiseptic rinsing with the active ingredient chlorhexidine. Systemic antibiotic therapy can be indicated for severe periodontitis.
If the disease has caused damage to the bone substance, reconstruction with Emdogain gel represents a sensible option. This preparation supports wound healing, promotes the regeneration of bones and gums and can contribute to the formation of tissue. In combination with thorough cleaning through a curettage, this modern therapy “repairs” damage to a certain degree can be “repaired”.
Good aftercare is important in any case: next to regular dental controls And professional tooth cleaning should include conscientious tooth and oral care as well as necessary lifestyle changes (foregoing smoking, restriction of sugar consumption, especially for diabetes).
Avoid cost trap: Does dental supplementary insurance make sense?
Anyone who is insured by law is often faced with the problem that not all medically desirable benefits are taken over by the health insurance company. Services in the context of prophylaxis, treatment and aftercare of periodontitis are unfortunately no exception. For example, the PZR (professional tooth cleaning) is subsidized by the GKV at best, although it is considered one of the most important measures in periodontitis prevention. Laser and ultrasound cleaning, with which an existing periodontitis can be effectively treated, the statutory health insurance companies do not pay at all, while the costs for measures for tissue structure are at best covered.
Private dental insurance can cover the costs for periodontal treatments in whole or in part and thus close supply gaps. Which costs are reimbursed and what conditions apply always depends on the insurer and on the respective tariff. Pension measures such as the PZR are often taken over to an annual cost limit. Often you can choose the (more pleasant but more pleasant, but more expensive) ultrasound or laser cleaning instead of treatment with the curette. The cost of gum plastic and bone uphill material can also be part of the range of services of dental supplementary insurance.
If you need dentures, a dental supplementary insurance (in good time) can cushion a large part of the often immense costs. It is important to take out this insurance at an early stage – namely at a time when the teeth are still in good health.
10.09.2025
