What is periodontal disease?
Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition of the gums and supporting bone that causes the gums to separate from the teeth. This gradual inflammation and gum separation leads to small pockets forming between the gums and teeth, which causes infection from bacteria and plaque. When left untreated, periodontal disease leads to extreme tooth decay and tooth loss.
Are there different types of periodontal disease?
Gum disease typically starts with a mild form, called gingivitis, and progresses to periodontitis when left untreated.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the most benign form of periodontal disease, and is reversible with proper treatment. Some obvious signs of gingivitis include:
- Red gums
- Swollen gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Bad breath
- Gum pain and sensitivity
- Receding gums
While gingivitis is most often caused by poor oral hygiene, there are a number of risk factors that contribute to this painful condition, such as:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Genetics
- Stress
- Poor nutrition
- Puberty
- Drug and alcohol use
- HIV
- Pregnancy
- Hormonal changes
Good oral hygiene habits and routine care and cleanings at Chandler Dental Arts can help reduce, even reverse, the signs of gingivitis. Without professional care, however, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis over time.
Periodontitis
Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis, or advanced gum disease, is not reversible once your gums begin to pull away from your teeth. At this stage, bacteria can begin to sneak into the pockets between your gums and your teeth, poisoning them with toxins that break down your teeth and cause tooth decay or loss.
As the disease progresses, your teeth and gums will become more infected, leading to tooth and bone loss if left untreated. What makes periodontitis a silent disease is that your decay may be so severe at this point that your gums no longer bleed when you brush your teeth, which makes many patients think their condition has reversed itself. Some patients have no idea they even have periodontitis until they begin to feel their teeth loosening.
What are my treatment options?
There are several gum disease treatments available, depending on the stage of your condition. These treatments include:
Professional cleaning
Should you still be in the early stages of gingivitis, a professional cleaning and proper oral hygiene, such as regular brushing and flossing, may be all you need to reverse signs of the disease.
Conventional periodontal therapy
Also known as scaling and root planing, conventional periodontal therapy is a nonsurgical procedure performed under a local anesthetic. This procedure requires your dentist to scrape away plaque and bacteria on your teeth and under your gums.
Surgery
If your gum disease has progressed to periodontitis, you may need surgery. This can be done by lifting back the gums to reduce pockets of plaque and bacteria. However, if your gum disease is extremely advanced, Dr. Mital Patel may recommend a soft tissue or bone graft surgery to restore lost tissue and bone.
For more information on periodontal disease and your treatment options, call Chandler Dental Arts or book an appointment online today.
