"Gum Disease" — The major cause of tooth loss in adults! Ignore your teeth and they will go away!

Your teeth are meant to last throughout your life. With conscientious care, indeed they can do that. Regularly brushing your teeth, flossing and regular visits to your dentist for professional cleanings can help avoid periodontal disease, which is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.

A beautiful healthy smile should be protected. The second photo shows the results of neglect. Advanced periodontal disease has eaten away the bone and the teeth are falling out.

The word "periodontal" has a Greek derivation. It means "around the tooth." Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria that in the form of calculus or plaque, attaches itself to the gums, bone and surrounding tissue. Though usually painless in the earlier stages, the consequences of periodontal disease can be quite severe if left untreated. In other words, ignore your teeth and they will go away!

The number of people affected by periodontal disease is quite large. Three out of every four adults have some form of periodontal disease. Regular brushing, flossing and irrigating, and having your teeth and gums examined by regular dental checkups is your best defense against periodontal disease.

During this dental visit, your dentist will examine your teeth with a periodontic probe and will remove any plaque buildup around your teeth and below the gum line (called scaling) before it can harden and turn into the porous deposit called calculus or tartar. If the calculus is left intact below the gum line, it can cause periodontal disease.

Periodontist: If not removed, plaque hardens into calculus (tartar). As plaque and calculus continue to build up, the gums begin to recede, or pull away from the teeth. Pockets form between the teeth and the gums.

Advanced Periodontist: The disease advances further, destroying more bone and periodontal ligament. Teeth - even those that are healthy - may become loose and need to be extracted.

In normal, healthy Gingiva (Gums), healthy gums and bone anchor teeth firmly in place.

We can treat existing periodontal disease or help you prevent its occurrence.

Although plaque is the major cause of periodontal disease, there are other factors that may also contribute such as smoking or chewing tobacco, oral contraceptives, improperly fitted bridges, old dental restorations, systemic disease such as AIDS or diabetes, certain types of steroids and other medications, bruxism or teeth grinding, and a poor or unbalanced diet, to name a few. If any of these conditions apply to you, healthy teeth and gums can still be yours, but you should be especially diligent about your oral health regimen and your dental checkups.

If you have tender gums that bleed easily, persistent bad breath or a bad taste, a change in your "bite" or in the way your partial dentures or bridge fits, loose teeth, or pus around the gum line, be sure to call us immediately for a checkup and a periodontal exam. While we have modern techniques to treat periodontal disease in its advanced stages, it is certainly true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Treatment:

All types of periodontal disease can be treated in this office utilizing either surgical or non-surgical techniques.