Periodontal Dentistry

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and bone surrounding teeth. Periodontal disease can cause inflammation, swelling, redness, and eventual tooth loss if not treated properly. There are four stages of periodontal disease: gingivitis, slight periodontal disease, moderate periodontal disease, and advanced periodontal disease.  One who has early symptoms may experience mild discomfort or pain while chewing food. Other symptoms of periodontal disease include the following:

•  Bad breath
•  Red gums
•  Swollen gums
•  Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
•  Painful chewing
•  Loose teeth
•  Sensitive teeth
•  Receding gums or longer appearing teeth
•  Swollen lymph nodes (glands), especially those on the side of the face near the jawbone

More severe symptoms include pus between your teeth and gums,

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

One of the most common causes of periodontal disease is bacteria that invade and infect the gums, bone, and tooth sockets. When plaque builds up on teeth due to improper oral hygiene, it can cause inflammation which produces bacteria that is harmful enough to destroy gum tissue.
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This will lead to red, swollen, and bleeding gums which affects the supporting structures for your teeth, such as bones and ligaments.

The milder form of gum disease is gingivitis. This can be remedied with regular brushing, flossing, and dentist visits. Gingivitis that is not treated can turn into periodontal disease. Patients with periodontal disease have bleeding, sore, puffy gums that can be painful. If not treated, patients can lose their teeth as a result of the dissolving of the supporting jaw bone. Periodontal disease has also been linked to other serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and respiratory infections and diseases. Besides the pain, discomfort, and serious health risks, patients with periodontal disease typically must undergo extensive, possibly expensive dental work.

Prevention and Treatment

Treatment for periodontitis varies on the stage of the disease the patient may be in. Gingivitis is the only stage of periodontal disease that is reversible because it has not spread to the teeth or bones. Therefore, it can be treated with a step-up in oral hygiene and professional cleaning. More severe forms of periodontal disease require extensive treatments that may include a deep cleaning of the teeth and gums, prescription medications, dental implants, or even corrective surgery.