The influence of periodontitis on the quality of life

Parodontitis je bolest potpornih struktura zuba koju uzrokuje mikrobni biofilm, a razvija se iz gingivitisa. Upalne bolesti gingive i parodonta, njihovi simptomi, kao i etiološki faktori ovih bolesti (mikrobni plak/biofilm), klinički su kvalitativno i/ili kvantitativno obuhvaćene indeksima koji predstavljaju objektivnu mjeru bolesti. Parodontni indeksi omogućuju brz uvid u pacijentovo stanje i time kliničaru omogućuju informacije za planiranje i provođenje potrebnog liječenja. Indeksi koji se koriste u kliničkoj primjeni su indeksi plaka, indeksi gingivitisa, parodontni indeksi te indeks gingivnih recesija. Nasuprot indeksu gingivitisa, koji u obzir uzima samo stupanj upale, indeksom parodontitisa trebaju biti određeni prije svega dubina sondiranja i gubitak potpornih tkiva zuba (gubitak pričvrstka). Suvremena dentalna medicina više se ne oslanja samo na objektivne parametre mjerene indeksima, već se okreće i mjerenju subjektivnog utjecaja liječenja pomoću upitnika kvalitete života. Kod osoba s parodontitisom zabilježena je smanjena kvaliteta u svim segmentima života (društvenom, fizičkom, psihičkom, emotivnom, funkcionalnom). Nakon provođenja inicijalne parodontološke terapije dolazi do poboljšanja kvalitete života te su pacijenti sretniji i zadovoljniji, ali ujedno su i motiviraniji jer vide koji učinak terapija ima na njihov svakodnevni život. U pacijenata, kod kojih je potrebna daljnja kirurška terapija, zabilježen je mali porast kvalitete života što ukazuje da se najveći porast kvalitete bilježi nakon inicijalne supragingivne i subgingivne terapije.Periodontitis is a disease of tooth-supporting tissues which develops from gingivitis and is caused by a microbial biofilm. Inflammatory diseases of periodontal tissues, their symptoms and ethological factors (like plaque) are clinically (qualitatively and/or quantitatively) encompassed by indices which represent an objective measure of the disease. Periodontal indices enable a quick insight into a patient’s condition and thus provide a clinician with information for further planning and performing a necessary treatment. Indices used in clinical practice are: plaque indices, gingival indices, periodontal indices and an index of gingival recessions. The gingival index takes into consideration only the degree of inflammation as opposed to the periodontal index which measures the probing depth and loss of tooth-supporting tissue (attachment loss). Modern dental medicine no longer relies solely on objective parameters measured by indices but it is also turning its attention to measuring the subjective effect of treatment with the help of life quality questionnaires. Periodontitis patients are noted to have reduced quality of all aspects of their lives (social, physical, physiological, emotional and functional). After an initial periodontal treatment, the quality of life improves which makes patients happier and more satisfied with their lives. Patients are also more motivated because they see the effect the treatment has on their everyday life. Patients requiring further surgical treatment have experienced a slight increase in life quality, suggesting that the highest increase in quality is observed after the initial supragingival and subgingival therapy