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Recent guidelines published by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) have underlined the importance of educational interventions. It’s critical to explain to patients how gingivitis progresses into more severe forms of periodontitis, causing a greater degree of inflammation, irreversible damage to the supporting structures of the teeth, and a more severe array of oral health concerns. Most patients with mild to severe gum disease know there is a problem, but again, equate it to their teeth. They often experience symptoms like loose or misaligned teeth caused by alveolar bone loss , or experience pain when chewing and attribute it to tooth sensitivity. Compromised gum health doesn’t always occur to them.
As you know, the progression from healthy gums to severe gum disease doesn’t happen overnight. The creep toward periodontitis is incremental. For patients keeping routine appointments, the signs become evident. Charting early-stage gum disease via symptoms of gingivitis, and recommending better overall cleaning habits (with an emphasis on interdental cleaning), is a good start toward prevention, but patients need to do their part at home.
Action comes from education. Show patients the symptoms of their gingivitis and explain how to remedy them. Talk through the progression of periodontal degradation. What happens when gingivitis remains untreated? How are the patient’s oral health habits and lifestyles choices contributing to their gum health? Create a dialog that not only explains gingivitis and the progression to periodontitis, but also one that elevates the importance of everyday interdental cleaning and gum care.
Short of the most severe cases, patients need to know that their periodontitis is treatable. Deep cleaning - scaling, root planing and other techniques - is common and relatively easy to administer. When worsening periodontitis comes up during a visit, it’s an opportune time to walk patients through good interdental cleaning habits - even providing them with products they can use at home for better gum care. Treatment may include prescribing oral antibiotics.
Above all, patients need to know that their condition will get worse if left unchecked. Make it clear that mild redness and bleeding are only superficial issues, and that severe (and costly) oral health troubles lay ahead. Evangelize timeliness and thoroughness in treating gingivitis.
As with any chronic oral condition, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Educating patients on the stages of gum disease and the highly preventable nature of the condition is an invaluable way to help them preserve their smile.
