Periodontal (Gum) Disease

Periodontal Disease or more commonly known as Gum Disease is a chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and surrounding tissue. It is the major cause of about 70% of adult tooth loss. Periodontal disease has been linked to diabetes, kidney and liver disease, heart disease and other autoimmune disorders.

WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS?

Red, Swollen, Tender, Bleeding gums
Bleeding gums when brushing and flossing
Separation of the gums from the teeth
Pus between the gum and the tooth
Persistent bad breath
Change in the bite or loose teeth
Change in the way a partial denture fits

While patients are advised to check for the warning signs, there might not be any discomfort until the disease has spread to a point at which the teeth are unsalvageable. That is why it is recommended you visit your dental professional on a regular cycle.

WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?

Periodontal disease is considered an autoimmune disease. It is caused by bacteria in the mouth that attaches to the tooth structures. It is true that you have many types of bacteria in your mouth that are beneficial for your body; however there are many that are not. Bacteria consume the foods that we eat and produce a soft acid waste product known as plaque. Plaque is a milky white in color and covers the outside of the tooth. Plaque destroys the gum attachment, and the result is a deeper space between where the gum is attached onto the tooth and the gum line surface. This is referred to as a periodontal pocket. Periodontal pockets create a cleaning problem because it is hard to reach into these deep areas to clean. As the bacteria continue to multiply and produce more plaque, it causes inflammation in the gums. The body’s response to inflammation is to send white blood cells to the area. These white blood cells release enzymes whose job it is to destroy bacterial cells, but they are not selective in the cells that they destroy. They destroy everything on site including the bone that supports the teeth.

When plaque stays on the teeth for even a few days, it starts to pick up the minerals in the saliva. This calcifies and becomes know as tartar or calculus (little stones). Calculus is very rough and is firmly attached to the teeth which can only be removed by a dental professional. The calculus becomes a bacteria trap where the bacteria can hide in the microscopic nooks and crannies of the calculus. The plaque that the bacteria produce continues to multiply and inflame the gums causing more bone damage.

DETECTION:

Early detection is imperative and can only be performed by a dental professional. Dr. Kats will measure the depth of the pockets and determine the amount of bone loss. This is a painless procedure and is a very important part of your dental care. The dentist will discuss with you your diagnosis and options during your appointment.

TREATMENT:

There are several ways to treat periodontal disease and it will depend on how severe your case is.

Moderate: Root Planing which is a type of gum surgery followed by perio maintance would be the most likely coarse of treatment
Severe: Laser surgery to repair the remove all the dead gum tissue which promotes healing, followed by gum surgery

To treat and arrest periodontal disease, the calculus must be thoroughly removed from below the gumline (cannot be accomplished with tooth brush and floss). This will be accomplished by the above methods depending on the recommendation of the doctor. The patient will then need to continue to disorganize the bacteria around the teeth and underneath the gumline area on a daily basis. In order for the bacteria to cause damage and inflammation, they must be organized. This is the bacteria’s first priority. It takes bacteria 24 hours to accomplish organization. So the more that you brush, floss, keep your scheduled hygiene appointments, and use whatever tools Dr. Kats recommends the bacteria will have a difficult time organizing and reattaching to your tooth structure. This is how you will be able to stop the progression of the disease.

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