The health of your gums is paramount. Gum disease can cause the loss of bone around your teeth and once bone is lost, it\’s gone forever. There are various stages of gum disease and it is best to treat the problem as early on as possible. All our dentists periodically check your gum health to make sure both you and us are doing everything we can to keep them healthy.
Gum disease is what happens when bacteria gets below the gum line and the attachment between the gum and tooth is lost. Gum disease is a silent and chronic bacterial infection that often goes undetected or ignored until severe gum and bonedestruction is unbearable and no longer able to be ignored. Left untreated, gum disease can cause tooth mobility and tooth loss. Three out of four Americans have some form of periodontal disease and only 3 out of 100 will ever get treated before it’s too late.
Gingivitis
Red, swollen gums that bleed easily are generally a sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that can usually be reversed with daily brushing and flossing, and regular cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist. This form of gum disease can progress to a more aggressive type that could include loss of bone and tissue that hold teeth in place.
Periodontitis
When gingivitis is left untreated, it often advances to “periodontitis”. Here the attachment of the gums to the teeth is affected creating spaces around your teeth called “pockets”. Pockets can range in depth and are usually the site of infection . If not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have to be removed.
Periodontal Cleaning (Scaling & Root Planning)
If you have periodontitis and the “pockets” around your teeth are significant your dentist will institute a gum health regimen that included a deep cleaning, irrigation of the pockets with antiseptic rinse, placement of medications like “Arestin” in the pockets and specific at home care methods. This procedure generally takes two visits and requires that you received local anesthetic in the area being cleaned.
If the disease is very aggressive and does not respond to the treatments above me may recommend you see a specialist for further treatment that may include surgical pocket reduction.
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