Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the supporting structures of the teeth, including the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and root cementum. Initiated by subgingival bacterial biofilm, the condition progresses from gingivitis through pocket formation to irreversible bone loss and, without treatment, eventual tooth mobility and extraction.
Periodontitis: The Silent Cause of Most Adult Tooth Loss
Periodontitis is responsible for approximately 70 per cent of adult tooth loss worldwide, yet the majority of patients present for treatment only after significant bone has already been destroyed. The condition is largely painless in its early and moderate stages: deep periodontal pockets harbour bacteria below the gum line, and the resulting bone resorption proceeds without the warning signals patients expect from a serious disease. By the time teeth become loose or visible recession appears, regenerative treatment options are already limited.
Vellum Select's Istanbul periodontal specialists provide full-arch non-surgical and surgical management of periodontitis, halting active disease and reconstructing lost tissue where viable, at costs 60 to 70 per cent below UK specialist periodontal fees.
Treatment Options for Periodontitis
View All ProceduresSymptoms of Periodontitis
Bleeding gums during brushing or flossing is the most common early sign and should never be dismissed as normal. As the disease progresses, patients notice persistent bad breath from the anaerobic bacterial load within pockets, gum swelling and tenderness, and a gradual lengthening of teeth as tissue recedes. In moderate to severe periodontitis, black triangles appear between teeth as interdental papillae are destroyed, and teeth begin to drift from their original positions. Mobile or separating teeth indicate advanced bone loss.
Diagnostic Pathways
Full-mouth periodontal charting records probing pocket depths, bleeding on probing, furcation involvement, and tooth mobility at six sites per tooth. A full-mouth series of periapical radiographs maps the alveolar bone crest level and identifies angular bone defects amenable to regenerative surgery. Microbiological testing of subgingival plaque identifies specific pathogenic bacteria where aggressive or refractory periodontitis is suspected. Systemic risk factors including diabetes, smoking status, and medications affecting gingival health are recorded and addressed as part of the treatment plan.
Advanced Treatment Options at Vellum Select
Vellum Select's Istanbul periodontists provide a phased treatment protocol that eliminates active infection first before assessing the need for surgical reconstruction.
Periodontal Surgery
Following non-surgical scaling and root planing, pockets that persist above 5 mm are addressed through open flap debridement, allowing direct visualisation and instrumentation of the root surface and bone. Angular bone defects meeting regenerative criteria are treated with guided bone regeneration using barrier membranes and grafting materials. Learn more about Periodontal Surgery in Turkey.