Risk factors for periodontal disease include cigarette smoking, diabetes, stress, poor oral hygiene, the presence of periodontal pockets, and heredity. Because the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease are not equal to the risk factors for periodontal disease, the method to determine a diagnosis of periodontal disease differs from the method to determine the risk for periodontal disease. Consequently, a comprehensive evaluation of periodontal status necessitates separate determinations for diagnosis and risk, which together comprise a broader description of a patient's periodontal status than diagnosis alone. Where subjective methods are used for determining risk there is a natural inclination to associate the level of risk with the severity of disease. While it is definitely true that high severity must equal high risk, it is just as true that low severity provides little or no information on risk level, because health must always go before severe disease (Martin, Page & Loeb, 2006.).
Steps to Treating Periodontal Disease
The first step of treatment is to get rid of all of the known causes of the periodontal disease. Mouth bacteria found in saliva forms colonies on the teeth and tissues, which is called plaque. This clear film of bacteria is the main cause of periodontal inflammation and breakdown. Calculus, also known as tartar, is formed when salts from the saliva precipitate into the plaque. This forms a hard substance, which holds fast tightly to the tooth. Both the calculus and the plaque must be removed to attain a successful result. The patient is taught to get rid of the plaque, while the dental professional must get rid of the calculus. Initial preparation also includes creating an environment that makes plaque removal by the patient as easy as possible. Following Initial Preparation, the tissues are looked at again after they have had a chance to heal to see if more periodontal therapy is needed. If the disease has been arrested, the optimal periodontal maintenance schedule is determined for the patient. If the disease persists, further non-surgical treatment may be performed. If surgery is needed to get rid of pockets that persist, a surgical treatment plan is formulated (Diagnosis and Treatment of Periodontal Disease, n.d).
Initial Preparation usually creates shrinkage of the inflamed gum, and therefore a reduction of the pocket depth. Frequently, if the patient has excellent oral hygiene habits and keeps regular maintenance appointments, this is enough to stabilize a case. On the other hand, with pockets that continue to bleed when probed, or with pockets deeper than 5mm, there is a high likelihood the disease process will continue. In those cases removal of the remaining pockets is the best treatment. If it is apparent during the examination that surgery is needed to obtain the best result, parts of the Initial Preparation may be shortened or circumvented completely. Scaling and root planing may be done during surgery, when access is the most ideal. This approach avoids repeating steps of Initial Preparation that would be performed during surgery, saving time and reducing expenses (Diagnosis and Treatment...
Although it may have the danger of making some patients complacent about other risk factors if their mouth is not found to be problematic, and some dentists may resent outsourcing the test to school nurses, for high risk, particularly poor children, it could be potentially life-saving for their teeth and later well-being, provided the information is disseminated to them in an appropriate fashion. All of these technologies hold the
Ergonomic risk factors related to dental office design, equipment and tools are well-described. As dissimilar kinds of dental work, ideal working locations, and dissimilar user groups influence design and precise equipment, postural and positioning variables may reduce the risks, and designs need to consider neuromuscular factors, postural factors and the possibilities of relaxation. Demands of dental tasks are alike for male and female dentists. Yet, many equipment designs helpful
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Dentistry Critical Success Factors in the Field of Dentistry The path to becoming a qualified dental professional is partially defined by the medical implications of the chosen career and partially defined by the business administration imperatives also directly related. The discussion here considers some of the key issues in defining critical success factors in the field of dentistry. Most specifically among them, the discussion addresses the characteristics of your dental education and
Ergonomics in Dentistry The Advancement of Ergonomics in Dentistry Dentistry and dental hygiene require maintaining ergonomically incorrect postures for long periods of time. The most common injuries among dental hygienist and dentists are shoulder injuries. In addition to maintaining these unnatural postures, hygienists and dentist repeatedly move using only a small range of motion in a limited space. This places load on the neck and shoulder, creates an imbalance in muscle length,
It is also somewhat cumbersome and heavy, with a transport weight of about 50 pounds. Furthermore, it looks rather large and might not be appropriate for all dental offices, as space can be limited here. It should therefore be carefully positioned in such a way that the dentist at no point needs to be discomforted by his need for a tool contained in the cart. He should be able
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