General dentistry
Periodontology
Periodontology is a branch of dental medicine that deals with the health of the supporting structures of the tooth (periodontium).
Periodontium consists of gums (gingiva), bones and fibers that bind the tooth to the bone.
Gingivitis is an inflammatory change in the gingiva, and if the inflammatory process widens and affects deeper structures then the disease passes to the second stage – periodontitis.
Approximately 30 to 40 percent of people suffer from this disease, which is one of the most common causes of teeth loss in adults.
What are periodontal diseases?
These are inflammatory conditions that cause damage of the tissue which supports teeth. The first stage of the inflammation of the gums (gingiva) is called gingivitis and can be completely cured. The initial symptom of the disease is inflammation of the gums that become red, painful and bloated, and it can bleed when brushing your teeth.
Gingivitis is a curable disease and, although the gums are sensitive, there is still no loss of the soft and bone tissue. If the disease is not treated, the inflammation spreads to periodontosis, a chronic infection covering gingiva and the supporting bone, which ultimately leads to complete tooth loss. Periodontitis is a silent disease with mild symptoms until the progression of the disease.
The main symptoms include inflammation, redness and swelling of the gingiva, the formation of periodontal pockets, gum recession, tooth mobility and bad breath.
Endodontology
Endodontology is a branch of dentistry that deals with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pathological processes of the dental pulp.
The dental pulp is located within the endodontic area of the tooth – the pulp chamber located inside the crown of the tooth and dental root canals.
It consists of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue that play an important role in the development and maintenance of tooth vitality.
Endodontic treatment is performed when the caries destroys the dental enamel and dentin and reaches the pulp.
If the inflamed tooth is not treated, the inflammation spreads to the bone and creates an inflammatory process, i.e. the development of the granuloma.
The priority of each dentist is to treat and preserve the tooth, but the treatment itself requires patience, which is also indispensable in the endodontic tooth treatment.
The treated tooth is as functional as other teeth, and the root can be used for crowns and bridges.
Dental calculus removal
Dental calculus removal is a simple method of removing all deposits on the teeth: calculus, plaque and pigmentations caused by food and smoking.
Although cleansing this is a treatment, we also classify it as a prevention method.
Once the calculus is formed, it cannot be removed using regular oral hygiene methods, but it requires a dental professional.
Dental calculus removal includes the use of various instruments or tools that soften and remove the layers and effectively clean your teeth.
Iva Slade Knežević, DMD
Iva Slade Knežević, DMD, has developed her love for dental medicine by growing up in a medical family. She graduated almost a decade ago and she has developed expertise through work in prestigious private polyclinics, which emphasize individual approach to each patient with the highest quality result.