A scarecrow named periodontitis

LČ: My interest in dental hygiene began when I was ten years old. At that time, I had braces, and because of frequent travel, I had to take care of them myself. Dental clinics were far away and I had no choice but to consult. If something fell out, I tried to fix it with the help of home tools and, out of concern for everything to go well, I constantly cleaned my teeth. I have been working in the field for three years now, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

KJ: Lenka and I studied together at school, and during the practical dental hygiene classes we always worked in pairs. One day our paths diverged and I started working as an orthodontic assistant and a dental hygienist in Brno. I enjoyed working with braces because it is something where you have to be really calm. It is very consistent, like clockwork. But the moment Lenka called me and offered me a job as a dental hygienist at Smart Care, I didn't hesitate for a minute. I said yes and our paths crossed again. I have been here for a year and a half and I am satisfied.

KJ: Our relationship with patients is on the border between friendship and professionalism. We usually already know the patients, so in the first few minutes we talk about everything: how their vacation was, how they were at work, etc. Then we start with the treatment, which is sometimes longer and sometimes shorter. It always depends on the extent of the disease.

LČ: Most patients who come to us complain that their mouth has changed in some way. In short, something is wrong, but they don't know what. Many of them report sensitivity to hot and cold, a characteristic bad breath, receding gums or black spots around the gums, which indicates subgingival tartar. Many people also think that these are just pigments that they can clean with a toothbrush.

KJ: Some people complain about loose teeth, which is one of the main points of advanced periodontitis. This is the stage where patients come to us most often. Red and bleeding gums are another factor that can last for several years, but people do not address it as they should.

LČ: There are many such cases. A person searches for something on the Internet, goes to the pharmacy and buys an expensive special toothpaste or mouthwash, thinking that it will solve the problem. Unfortunately, it only solves the external side. Usually this method masks a serious problem that will not go away without consistent treatment. I would say that these procedures only extend the time that a patient with periodontitis lives. And that is really not good for the future, because at the moment when the problem is treated with a home method, a serious bacterial deposit can form between the root and the gum. A person can lose most of their teeth.

KJ: We usually order an initial dental hygiene visit along with documentation, which includes a comprehensive dental diagnosis. If periodontitis is diagnosed, after consultation with our dentist, we send the patient for an initial periodontal examination, during which a periodontal treatment plan is prepared for the patient. When a new patient who comes to us for hygiene elsewhere calls, we only order a periodontal visit.

LČ: We start by entering a periodontal cross into the computer, which evaluates the looseness of the teeth, the depth of the periodontal pocket, bleeding, the presence of plaque and the level of the gums (gingiva) - that is, how much they have receded. We measure these values ​​at six points and they are different for each person. It always depends on the extent of the disease. The initial periodontal examination for a new patient, including the initial documentation, takes approximately two hours and costs 4000 CZK.

KJ: The price is adjusted to the time required. The patient pays not only for the clinic visit, but also for the time of our team (see below), which consists of orthodontics, restorative dentistry and surgery. Of course, this also includes the time when we work on creating a periodontal treatment plan. Each patient needs to be approached individually. For this reason, our clinic also holds a meeting every Monday, the so-called status, when our team meets and discusses all the treatment plans of each patient separately.

KJ: The treatment is not painful because we use anesthesia. If we leave aside the occasional sensitivity after the procedure, the patients themselves say that the most unpleasant thing is the injection itself before the treatment begins. At least two thirds of the patients even fall asleep because the procedures are long. Sometimes we provide them with a blanket and a pillow under their head so that their neck does not hurt.

LČ: As already mentioned, the treatment is individual, in any case, each of our patients will always improve. After the periodontal treatment plan is sent to the patient, we have six months to order the individual points. The deep cleaning itself takes a week to a fortnight. It depends on how extensive the disease is. It is also important that everything must be done in one go because of the antibiotic shield, which lasts for the duration of the deep cleaning treatment.

KJ: It is certainly not possible for us to clean one part now and the other part later. The moment the patient stops taking antibiotics, bacteria would be transferred from the uncleaned part to the cleaned part. And we really cannot allow that. After completing the first phase, we will take a three-month break, during which the person must clean as much as possible! Our mutual trust and cooperation between the treating doctor and the patient are very important. If a person does not take care of their teeth after completing the treatment, the disease can quickly return.

LČ: Definitely keep up with preventive visits to your dentist and have dental hygiene at least twice a year.

KJ: I agree with Lenka. Prevention is the key, and when you visit our dental hygienist, we automatically check the condition of the periodontium in an effort to prevent local damage.