Oksu-dong Dental Clinic: Why Timely Treatment for Periodontal Disease (Pungchi) is Crucial

Oksu-dong Dental Clinic: Why Timely Treatment for Periodontal Disease (Pungchi) is Crucial

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, gingivitis and periodontal disease are common oral conditions, even more frequent than the common cold. However, many people are less informed about them compared to cavities or wisdom teeth, or they tend to dismiss symptoms and delay timely treatment.

Yet, the longer periodontal disease is neglected, the more severe its stage becomes. In severe cases, it can lead to tooth extraction or spontaneous tooth loss, requiring complex root canal therapy and implant treatment. Therefore, it is best to seek treatment as quickly as possible and adopt preventive habits to avoid the onset of periodontal disease.

The main causes of periodontal disease, commonly known as ‘pungchi’, are plaque and tartar. Plaque refers to the bacterial film that forms on the tooth surface after we eat, while tartar is formed when this bacterial film combines with food debris remaining in the mouth, hardening like stone and accumulating between teeth or between the gums and teeth.

When plaque and tartar accumulate for extended periods, gaps gradually form between the gums and teeth. Periodontal disease occurs when over 300 types of bacteria residing in the mouth invade these gaps, causing an inflammatory reaction.

Gingivitis, the earliest symptom of periodontal disease (pungchi), involves inflammation of the soft tissues, leading to swollen or bleeding gums. If your gums frequently swell or bleed during brushing without any apparent injury, you should suspect that periodontal disease may have already begun.

In the early gingivitis stage, symptoms can often be improved with a relatively simple scaling procedure. However, if gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis over time. Periodontitis involves inflammation of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, characterized by gum pus, severe gum sensitivity and tingling, pain, receding gums that make teeth appear longer, and persistent bad breath despite diligent brushing.

The problem is that if even early-stage periodontitis is left untreated, it can progress to advanced periodontitis, causing teeth to loosen and fall out. Even if they don't fall out, the alveolar bone and pulp may already be contaminated, making it impossible to preserve or save the natural teeth. In such cases, extraction, root canal therapy, and implant placement may be necessary, requiring careful attention.

However, as mentioned earlier, in the early stages of periodontal disease (pungchi), gum bleeding is minimal, appearing only temporarily during brushing or eating and quickly stopping. The pain is also not severe, leading many to dismiss it as simply tired or swollen gums due to fatigue.

Consequently, many patients who visit Oksu-dong Dental Clinic thinking they have cavities due to sensitive and tingling gums are often diagnosed with severe periodontitis. Particularly for middle-aged individuals in their 40s and 50s, when aging begins, the oral cavity also ages, causing gaps to easily form between the gums and teeth, increasing the likelihood of periodontal disease.

Recently, with an increase in smokers and people consuming sticky foods like caramel, chocolate, and desserts that leave residues on teeth and gums, there has been a rise in periodontal disease cases even among younger age groups.

To prevent such periodontal diseases, it is advisable to establish a habit of good oral hygiene, including flossing and brushing within 30 minutes after eating, to prevent tartar from accumulating.

However, even with diligent brushing, it is difficult to remove tartar accumulated in areas not visible to the naked eye or in deep parts of the teeth and gums. Therefore, it is wise to regularly visit Oksu-dong Dental Clinic for scaling and oral health check-ups.

Since tartar can accumulate anywhere on the teeth and gums, it is crucial to accurately assess the current condition of your teeth and gums. Therefore, when choosing an Oksu-dong Dental Clinic for periodontal disease treatment, you should check if they have equipment for precise examinations, offer customized treatment based on symptoms, prioritize saving natural teeth over immediately recommending implant treatment, and provide responsible post-treatment care.

At Oksu-dong Dental Clinic, the head dentist, who is certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for integrated dental treatment, provides personalized 1:1 care, taking responsibility for everything from the initial consultation to treatment and post-treatment management.

In particular, even if periodontal disease is advanced, Oksu-dong Dental Clinic carefully examines whether there are any ways to save natural teeth before recommending implant treatment. Even if you have already been advised to undergo extraction and implant treatment at another dental clinic, we will re-evaluate and proceed with diagnosis and treatment.

Furthermore, Oksu-dong Dental Clinic utilizes precise diagnostic equipment like 3D CT to meticulously examine areas difficult to see with the naked eye, striving to provide appropriate dental treatment tailored to each patient. For those with a great fear of pain during treatment, various anesthesia methods such as digital painless anesthesia, gargle anesthesia, and topical anesthesia are applied to help reduce their anxiety.

Moreover, all dental hygienists at Oksu-dong Dental Clinic who perform scaling for early-stage periodontal disease are not apprentice hygienists but officially licensed national dental hygienists. They meticulously examine the patient's oral condition and pain levels to provide detailed scaling.

Scaling is covered by National Health Insurance for anyone aged 19 or older, allowing them to receive scaling at an affordable price once a year. If the cost of scaling is a concern, utilizing this benefit would be a good option.

However, since the rate and frequency of tartar accumulation vary for each individual, it is recommended to have your oral condition checked during scaling at Oksu-dong Dental Clinic to determine your specific tartar accumulation cycle and then receive scaling every 3 months, 6 months, or once a year accordingly to prevent periodontal disease.

If ‘pungchi’ is too advanced to be improved by scaling alone, various methods such as periodontal curettage and root planing are used to help improve the patient's periodontal disease symptoms.

However, if it is unfortunately determined that natural teeth can no longer be saved, we help patients regain new teeth through root canal treatment to remove contaminated dental nerves, along with navigation implants that identify the path beforehand and minimize gum incision to reduce pain. Additionally, an implant warranty certificate promising 5 years of post-treatment care is issued, so please keep this in mind.

For stable treatment, all procedures performed in the clinic adhere to the principle of using one tool per person, and we strive to prevent cross-infection between patients through 9-step sterilization management.

Furthermore, Oksu-dong Dental Clinic, which believes that saving natural teeth is the foundation of all dental care, offers evening appointments until 8:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays for busy office workers, students, and self-employed individuals who lack time. The clinic is located a 1-minute walk from Yaksu Station Exit 6, and appointments can be easily made via Naver Reservation, KakaoTalk inquiry, or phone inquiry.

If the treatment period for periodontal disease is missed, it can lead to other systemic diseases. Especially for patients with pre-existing conditions, the risk of systemic disease is high, so please undergo regular oral examinations and seek active management when initial symptoms appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does periodontal disease (pungchi) occur?

Periodontal disease primarily occurs due to plaque and tartar. The bacterial film (plaque) that forms on the tooth surface after eating, and the hardened tartar that results, accumulate between the gums and teeth, causing inflammation.

What are the early symptoms of periodontal disease?

The earliest symptom of periodontal disease, gingivitis, involves inflammation of the soft tissues, leading to swollen or bleeding gums. If your gums bleed during brushing or frequently swell, you might suspect periodontal disease.

How can periodontal disease be treated?

In the early gingivitis stage, symptoms can be improved with scaling alone. If it progresses to periodontitis, treatments like periodontal curettage and root planing are used. In severe cases, root canal therapy or implants may be necessary.

How often should I get scaling?

The frequency of scaling varies for each individual, but Oksu-dong Dental Clinic recommends regular scaling every 3 months, 6 months, or once a year after checking your oral condition.

Does Oksu-dong Dental Clinic prioritize natural tooth preservation?

Yes, even if periodontal disease is advanced, Oksu-dong Dental Clinic meticulously examines ways to save natural teeth before recommending implants, proceeding with diagnosis and treatment accordingly.

Is scaling covered by National Health Insurance?

Yes, anyone aged 19 or older who is enrolled in National Health Insurance can receive scaling benefits at an affordable price once a year.