Perio-endo lesions are lesions with both periodontal and endodontic involvement. This means that your gum tissue and the tissues that support your teeth are inflamed and infected, while the pulp at the center of your tooth is also dying off. Here are four things you need to know about these serious dental lesions.

What are the signs of perio-endo lesions?

If you have perio-endo lesions, the affected teeth will hurt. You may also notice pus discharging from between your teeth or from beneath your gum line. Your gums will also display signs of periodontal disease like redness, swelling, and bleeding.

What causes perio-endo lesions?

Perio-endo lesions can form for three main reasons. First, you could lose enough of the bone from your jaw that the root of your tooth is exposed, which introduces bacteria to the pulp. This can occur as a result of problems like jawbone atrophy or severe gum disease.

Second, your tooth can die and lead to the formation of an abscess (pocket of pus) within your gums. Teeth die when the pulp of the tooth becomes contaminated with bacteria, which can happen if you break your tooth or develop a severe cavity.

Third, your tooth can die due to a large cavity while you're also suffering from severe gum disease; in this case, the two problems are unrelated but just happen to occur at the same time.

How serious are perio-endo lesions?

These lesions can lead to a variety of serious complications. You may lose the affected teeth, either due to the death of the pulp or due to the destruction of the gums and supportive structures. The infection may also spread to other areas of your body, including your blood, leading to a life-threatening infection known as sepsis. 

How do dentists treat perio-endo lesions?

Your dentist will need to address both components of your lesions: your gums and your pulps. The pulpal involvement can be treated with root canal therapy. This treatment is well known and involves removing your diseased pulp and replacing it with a type of dental cement known as gutta-percha.

The periodontal involvement can be treated by deep cleaning your teeth and gums to remove any tartar, calculus, or bacteria that is contributing to the infection. Antibiotics will also be used to get rid of the infection, and if necessary, the infected or dead gum tissue will need to be surgically removed.

Perio-endo lesions are very serious, but your dentist can help you treat them.