Innovative technologies will be developed for the treatment of periodontitis: a disease that affects >1.5 million citizens and causes >4 billion Eur in healthcare costs per year in the FWVL Interreg region.
Periodontitis is the cause of tooth loss and affects patients' quality of life. A person without teeth is disabled and excluded from normal life, leading to depression and lower life expectancy. Periodontitis is caused by bad bacteria that form a biofilm between tooth and gums. This film is difficult to remove through tooth brushing. The bad bacteria secrete substances that affect the gums. The body reacts with local inflammation and the attachment with the gums is partially lost. A pocket develops, allowing the bad bacteria to develop further, the inflammation worsens and the periodontal pockets become deeper. In advanced stages, bone is also affected.