Periodontal

What is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?

What is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?

Gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection, spreading from the gum line around the teeth to the deeper supporting structures that anchor your teeth in your mouth. It is most often painless. Like high blood pressure, you may not realize you have it until you are measured for it. In the advanced stages, gum disease can lead to the loss of your teeth. Gum disease provides an open portal for bacteria to enter your body. It is transmissible from person to person via saliva. There is no cure for gum disease, and no ability to reverse the bone damage caused by gum disease once it is well established. However, if identified early enough, advancement of the disease may be arrested.

We have put together a state of the art system for gum and periodontal care specifically designed to identify the disease as early as possible and to provide appropriate treatment for each stage of involvement. We now have the use of dental lasers in our office, utilizing focused light energy to zap bacteria and remove diseased tissue deep in the pockets where your toothbrush cannot reach. Lasers promote collagen formation and tissue regeneration. We are very pleased to be able to offer this advancement to you and are excited about the breakthrough it represents in the treatment of initial periodontal disease.

Signs Of Health: Pink, firm, attached gums, no pain, no bleeding. Probing depths less than or equal to 3mm. No odor on the floss after it has been passed through the teeth.

Signs Of Disease: Bad breath, loose and shifting teeth, red, swollen and or bleeding gums, itching or soreness of gums. Bleeding on probing, and depth pocket readings greater than 3mm.

Risk Factors For Periodontal Disease:

Poor Oral Hygiene – Plaque remaining on the teeth can lead to gum infections and a door way through which bacteria can enter your blood stream and infect other parts of your body.

Smoking And Use Of Tobacco – Masks the signs of the disease thereby increasing your chance of developing advanced disease without knowing it . It also limits treatment success.

Pregnancy – Hormonal changes make your gums more sensitive to bacteria.

Medications – Some drugs, such as birth control pills, antidepressants, heart, seizure, and cancer medications, may make your gums more sensitive to bacteria.

Clenching And Or Grinding Your Teeth – Puts extra force on the supporting tissues and may speed up the advancement of the disease.

Faulty, Aging Dental Work – Will increase nooks and crannies for bacteria to hang out and do damage.

Illness, Stress And Poor Diet – Make it harder for your body to fight infection.

Laser Gum therapy – Gum disease is likely the most common chronic infection in our body. Incorporating Laser Gum therapy into our therapy can reduce the need for costly and uncomfortable gum surgery.