Ultrasound for periodontosis treatment
Untreated periodontitis can lead to destruction of the periodontium. Periodontal treatment can often be lengthy and in some cases even painful. Newer methods, such as periodontal treatment using ultrasound, are designed to make this easier.
In standard periodontal treatment, the gums often have to be cut open in order to reach the root surface with sharp instruments and remove the bacteria. Ultrasound makes this easier and makes the tooth vibrate. Not only does the tooth begin to vibrate, but also the plaque adhering to it.
However, the tooth and the plaque vibrate differently, so that the plaque, tartar or even the concrements fall off. Concrements are dark deposits at the root of the tooth. Bacteria and germs are thus dissolved in a more gentle way and rinsed with water from the gum pocket. The surface of the root is not affected, difficult to reach areas and the pulp is treated more gently.In general, this method is easier to apply, less painful and more tissue-compatible. A periodontal treatment by ultrasound is usually not a service that is covered by health insurance companies.
Duration of periodontal treatment
The overall treatment is divided into 3 sections. In pre-treatment, the actual treatment and aftercare. In the pre-treatment, also known as the hygiene phase, the findings are first recorded.
A snapshot of the tooth status is noted. In addition, x-rays are taken. During the pre-treatment, oral hygiene is determined with an index.
If this index is below 25%, therapy can be started. The patient has to come back until at least 25% of all teeth are in good condition. In order to achieve this, we research the cause of periodontitis.
In addition, the patient receives instructions on how to practice oral hygiene. To be able to send a cost plan to the health insurance company, pocket depths and possible bone loss must be written down exactly. Depending on the extent of the inflammation, i.e. the severity of the periodontitis, the appropriate form of therapy is chosen.
Especially in young patients, who may be very careful about their oral hygiene, but still suffer from periodontitis, an additional sample is sent to the laboratory. It is examined for germs, because younger patients are often suspected of having aggressive periodontitis. Professional tooth cleaning is always part of the pre-treatment.
Through this an improvement is often already visible. In the closed procedure, the tartar under the gums, the so-called concrements, are removed. The root surface is smoothed with hand instruments or ultrasonic devices to prevent new plaque from attaching.
After 4-6 weeks the patient comes for a follow-up examination. Pockets that previously had a depth of 5-6 mm must be surgically opened and cleaned under direct vision. In this operation, bone replacement material can also be inserted if necessary.
Soft tissue can be transplanted to hide exposed tooth necks. Depending on how long the pre-treatment takes, the entire treatment can last from 2 months to a year. The number of sessions varies depending on the severity of the inflammation and how well the body responds to the treatment.
The pre-treatment usually requires 3 sessions, each lasting about one hour. The dentist needs at least 2 sessions to clean up, as only one half of the face should be anaesthetized at a time. Therefore, the dentist first takes the 1st and 3rd quadrant and in a further session the 2nd and 4th quadrant.
There is also the option “4 in 24”, which means that all 4 jaw sections are treated within 24 hours. However, 2 sessions are also effective. If the closed session is followed by an open treatment, a 3rd session is added.
This means that 5-6 sessions are needed before the cleansing is completed. This is followed by the aftercare. Depending on how well the therapy has worked, the patient will be called for a recall every 6 or 3 months to prevent a new infection. There are 3-4 follow-up examinations per year, each of which lasts one hour.
