Convergence News Network reporter Chen Hongzhi/Reporting from Taipei

"Doctor, I have periodontal disease. Can I have dental implants before treating it?", "Doctor, can I have dental implants if I have periodontal disease?" Do not want to be afraid to speak or smile because of missing teeth. This is the cry in the hearts of many patients with severe periodontal disease. In fact, as long as periodontal patients are treated thoroughly and all pathogenic bacteria are eradicated, and the periodontal disease is successfully resolved, periodontal dental implants can be successfully performed and the dilemma of missing teeth can be eliminated.

Dr. Huang Shiyong, a specialist in dental implants and periodontics at the Modern Dental Digital Implant Center of the Modern Dental Medical System, said that "periodontal disease" is a national disease that affects the oral cavity of 90% of Taiwanese people, but it is the most easily ignored disease. When you neglect oral hygiene and fail to brush and floss every day, food residues take root in the mouth and accumulate into a favorite breeding ground for bacteria. Plaque stays here for a long time and forms dental calculus, which begins to wreak havoc on the gums and gum bones.

Huang Shiyong said that after the original pink and bright red gums are heavily attacked by dental plaque, they may cause bad breath, redness, inflammation, and bleeding when brushing teeth, or severe swelling and suppuration, erosion of the gums to the point of exposing the root of the tooth, loosening of the tooth, or even the root of the tooth is crumbling, which is the cause of tooth loss.

So if teeth are lost due to severe periodontal disease, can dental implant surgery be performed to save the crisis of missing teeth? Huang Shiyong explained that dental implants are a reconstruction process that simulates the structure of real teeth. An implant, that is, an artificial tooth root, is placed in the alveolar bone and the dentures are locked. The bite and chewing power and cleanliness of dental implants are closest to those of real teeth, and they have more advantages than traditional dental bridges.

During the process of artificial tooth implantation, it is very important to maintain periodontal health during the integration stage between the artificial tooth root and the alveolar bone. The implant (artificial tooth root) will not be completely destroyed by the bacterial army in the oral cavity like the original natural teeth, causing the tragedy of tooth loss to happen again.

Huang Shiyong pointed out that it is not that patients with periodontal disease cannot have dental implants, but that the periodontal disease must be thoroughly treated first, and the plaque and calculus in the oral cavity must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent the continued spread of bacteria, so as to avoid the failure of dental implants due to periodontal disease.

Huang Shiyong said that there are three steps for dental implants for patients with periodontal disease. Step one is periodontal disease treatment. Generally speaking, basic pre-implant treatment for periodontal disease can be divided into the following three stages:

1.The first stage of periodontal disease treatment:

Superficial dental calculus can be cleaned using ultrasound. Using the principle of ultrasonic vibration to break up the dental calculus attached to the teeth, ultrasonic tooth cleaning instruments will not damage the tooth surface.

Deep dental calculus can be removed through subgingival curettage, also known as root planing. A periodontal scraper is used to go deep under the gums to scrape away the plaque and calculus attached to the tooth root surface. In addition, it can be combined with a water laser to use its sterilization function to remove periodontal bacteria and calculus on the tooth root surface.

2.The second stage of periodontal disease treatment:

1 to 2 months after the first stage of treatment, the periodontal improvement of the entire mouth will be evaluated. If there are still teeth with problems, periodontal flap surgery can be performed. The surgical method will be debridement or periodontal regeneration according to the condition of the teeth. Before the operation, after anesthesia, the gums will be opened, deep into the tooth roots and periodontal pockets, and the attached dental calculus and inflamed tissue will be scraped off.

3.The third stage of periodontal disease treatment:

Maintain good oral hygiene and return for regular follow-up visits every 3 to 6 months.

Huang Shiyong said that many people often feel that the gaps between their teeth have become larger and their gums have receded after teeth cleaning. This is not a damage caused by teeth cleaning, but the result of the destruction of dental calculus accumulated on the surface of the teeth, between the teeth, and on the gums. Dental scaling only removes the originally accumulated dental calculus, showing the current situation after the teeth have been damaged.

The second step in getting dental implants for patients with periodontal disease is to rebuild the alveolar bone and healthy gums. Huang Shiyong said that when periodontal disease is completely treated, evaluation of periodontal dental implant treatment can begin.

However, for patients with severe periodontal disease, the "alveolar bone" or gums that are the foundation of the teeth are mostly eroded and damaged by dental plaque and periodontal bacteria. The key to the success of dental implants is to first lay the foundation of the tooth root and insert the artificial tooth root so that it can be tightly integrated with the alveolar bone and firmly anchored in the gums.

Before dental implantation, bone powder must be added to the alveolar bone. The material is autologous bone, allogeneic bone or artificial bone powder to promote bone growth. A flesh-filling operation must be performed. You must wait 3 to 6 months for the alveolar bone and tooth flesh to slowly grow back to ensure that the foundation is stable before you can proceed with periodontal disease dental implant treatment.

The third step in getting dental implants for patients with periodontal disease is to perform dental implant surgery. When the bone and gum are in good condition, you can begin the periodontal implant surgery.

Huang Shiyong said that the first step of dental implant surgery is to implant the implant (artificial tooth root) that supports the denture into the alveolar bone. After 3 to 6 months, the artificial tooth root and the alveolar bone are tightly integrated. After the osseointegration is completed, the denture can be installed and the dental implant surgery is completed. Generally speaking, depending on the condition of the alveolar bone, the overall dental implant surgery time takes about half a year to a year.

Huang Shiyong emphasized that after successful dental implantation, you must maintain the good habit of cleaning your teeth and flossing every day, and go to the clinic regularly for six months to have your teeth cleaned and check your periodontal condition. This is the best strategy for long-lasting dental implants.

Article source/Confluence News Network