Hereditary periodontitis:
Studio Paro in Lyon, France
A long-term, often silent condition, periodontal disease can lead to severe damage if left untreated. Our dental practice in Lyon specializes in periodontitis and its causes.
Good periodontal health depends on the right balance between the quantity of oral bacteria and the patient’s immune system. The immune system is inherited from our parents. Periodontal disease is therefore hereditary. How can it be treated? What are the risks for your children? Dr Touati and his team explain.
What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a bacterial disease that affects the structure that supports the teeth. Accumulations of pathogenic micro-organisms form under the gums in so-called periodontal pockets. As well as causing discomfort (visible roots, pain…), this condition can eventually lead to permanent tooth loss. The risk to general health is also real: widespread infection, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular problems…
If caught early, periodontal disease will not lead to tooth loss. However, periodontitis that is resistant to treatment and/or recurs prompts your practitioner to look for causes other than a simple bacterial attack. Indeed, certain genetic factors predispose to periodontitis.
Chronic periodontitis: genetic factors at play
Some people suffer from a deficiency in their immune response, caused by a mutation in the gene encoding Interleukin IL-I. This particularity increases the risk of contracting an aggressive form of periodontitis, often resistant to conventional antibiotics.
Fortunately, a genetic test has been developed to detect this mutation. Called PST – for Periodontal Susceptibility Test – it enables the right strategy to be adopted in cases of proven immune deficiency.
PST test: why bother?
Like all genetic tests, this laboratory examination can reveal an individual’s predisposition to a particular condition. Performed on prescription, the PST test costs around 50 euros. If it proves positive, we recommend that you have it performed on your children as soon as they are adults.
The PST test has two main advantages:
- to let you know that you are suffering from immune deficiency and act accordingly;
- ensure that your children receive appropriate care.
In practical terms, if you know you’re a carrier of the mutated gene, it’s advisable to avoid sharing cutlery with your young children. In this way, you limit the risk of transmitting to them the bacteria responsible for periodontitis.
Please note, however, that while the gene may predispose your children to periodontal disease, the onset of the disease is not systematic. In addition, regular check-ups with a periodontologist can ensure effective treatment from the very first symptoms.
Periodontal follow-up: the benefits of Studio Paro
Because periodontitis is usually asymptomatic until it reaches an advanced stage, it needs to be detected and treated by specialists. Knowing your immune status, and that of your children, will enable you to have regular check-ups if you present a favorable terrain.
The periodontal dentists at Studio Paro in Lyon 3rd have the skills and equipment needed to manage any periodontal condition from its earliest stages. When you entrust your oral health to our experts, you benefit from :
- care provided by three peer-recognized periodontology specialists;
- personalized, long-term support;
- a human and educational approach, in which you are genuinely involved in your treatment;
- payment facilities (to be arranged at the time of quotation).
Contact us
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