Here are some of the main highlights of the interview:

What is periodontitis? What behavior should every person responsible for their dental health have?

Periodontal diseases (the most well-known of which is periodontitis) are disorders of the normal health of the tooth-supporting apparatus – the gums, the bone, and hence. These diseases are very common, especially with age. The presence of more and more sugars in food and the stress of a modern lifestyle lead to a change in the composition of saliva. With poor oral hygiene, this leads to the appearance of plaque, which then becomes tartar. Failure to clean tartar leads to its deposition in the periodontal pockets, and from there it can lead to inflammation and tooth loss. Unfortunately, very little is said about these diseases. People think that brushing their teeth with toothpaste and flossing is enough, but unfortunately this is not the case.

How important is the treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases?

In our clinic, we always start with a complete examination of the oral cavity. After the initial examination, a full status of the periodontal condition is performed. This means seeing where there is inflammation, how deep the pockets are, and whether there is tartar deep in the pocket. The hardest tartar is in the pocket, and it is the most insidious. If the examination is done correctly and the patient's overall condition is revealed, he already knows what he needs to do - to devote time, energy, resources (time, financial) and do something for himself. To put himself and his dental health as a priority. Of course, if the patient has some urgent problem, it is solved with priority. After that, however, oral hygiene is immediately started, because without hygiene, all subsequent actions are meaningless. The mouth is one of the places in the body where there are the most microorganisms.

What does oral hygiene include?

We have divided hygiene into special packages, depending on the patient's condition. A person may have more supragingival tartar. Then we proceed to clean the supragingival tartar and tooth structures. This is done in a specially equipped hygiene office with the latest generation of Swiss equipment. The patient comes out fresh and satisfied, and at the end there is a slight whitening effect. This package can also include a refreshing whitening, which takes only 10-15 minutes. In patients with inflammation and totally neglected oral hygiene, deep cleaning of the pockets is necessary, which in some cases is also performed under anesthesia. This is done with special instruments and curettes. Recovery here takes several days. Often, tartar retention under the gum is due to old structures, orthodontic anomalies or bad habits.

Is periodontitis reversible?

From gingivitis, where we only have inflammation of the gums, to severe periodontitis, where we have bone loss, there is a big difference. In some cases, the processes are truly irreversible, but it all depends on the specific case and the professional expertise of the treating doctor. In the presence of very extensive damage, open curettage must be performed in order to save the tooth. In this case, incisions are made and the pockets are thoroughly cleaned using curettes and ultrasound. For sterilization of the treated surface, we use a high-energy Er:Yag laser, which accelerates the healing processes and makes the entire procedure less painful. If nothing can be done to save the tooth, extraction is performed. Depending on how many teeth have been removed, possible solutions are the placement of implants, dentures or a restorative bridge structure.

Is this one of the most neglected conditions by patients?

For me, hygiene and periodontal diseases are something that is not paid attention to in depth. Hygiene should be done morning and evening, including brushing your teeth with a suitable toothpaste. The brush is also essential. It is good if it is ultrasonic or electric. New brushes even have software that shows on the phone whether you are brushing your teeth correctly. You should also use aids such as intradental brushes, floss, mouthwash, etc.

What complications can the lack of proper and complete oral hygiene lead to?

Dental and gum diseases affect the skeletal system, joints, heart, lungs. Many allergic diseases are also based on microorganisms that develop in the mouth.

What other problems can arise when it comes to oral hygiene?

Very often in young people there is the so-called juvenile periodontitis. Because in young people and children the saliva becomes more viscous, and this is a prerequisite for the deposition of tartar and periodontal diseases. It is very important that children are taught proper hygiene habits from a very early age. Parents have a major role here. In the clinic we do motivation with parents, where we teach them how to properly do hygiene. In adult patients who have implants, bridges, veneers and dentures, oral hygiene must also be at a very high level.

From everything said so far, can we conclude that compromises with oral hygiene should not be made?

Of course! When it comes to dental health, a person should say to themselves – Yes, I am the most important, I deserve to have a nice smile, I deserve for my mouth not to smell bad when I talk to people. Because let's face it, many people's mouths smell and we are afraid to tell them. The mouth cannot help but smell, since microorganisms develop in it and the necessary measures are not taken. Such a person will not feel comfortable in communication. We all want to be beautiful, recognized, respected and to be happy. How can we be happy if we cannot smile happily with a nice smile?

Say a few final words to our viewers, and of course we reserve the right to talk together again.

Our main mission is to give the best to the patient. The best in service and the best in attitude. To do everything with a lot of love. In the clinic, we have specialized activities with specialists from different fields. Working with a person who is dedicated to only one specialty is a privilege for the patient. The conditions created in the clinic are such that a person does not get stressed, but feels significant. We want a person to understand when he comes that he is very important to us, that we will give the best and we will do it with love. Of course, we are not perfect, there are certainly things to improve and we do it every day. Another thing I want to add is that in the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry, we have been a base of the University of Plovdiv for several months. We will be able to accept young people to specialize in the clinic. Our goal is to accredit more specialties so that we can create opportunities for people who want to specialize to do so and for there to be more specialists.