For simplicity, we often use the term gum disease instead of its more precise name, periodontal disease. But this type of disease can impact more than just gums. When bacteria in plaque damage your gums, it’s possible that other tissue and even the jawbone can be impacted. Gum disease, in fact, is the leading tooth loss cause in U.S. adults, making this condition which sometimes has no early warning signs something you must watch for and get treated right away.
Periodontal disease happens when plaque on teeth isn’t cleaned away, allowing bacteria to multiply. Eventually, these bacteria infect gums, create deep pockets around teeth and destroy tissue. The body reacts as a whole as well. The deep pockets allow for even more bacteria – and even more problems, including tooth loss.
Types Of Gum Disease
Gum Disease Types
There are several types of gum disease, each with its own symptoms. They all need the help of a dentist to cure, perhaps a San Diego Dentist Association member. As soon as your dentist has recognized the type of disease you have, a program of treatment can be established to prevent the disease from progressing and save as much of your gums, connective tissue, and jawbone as possible.
Here are some of the most frequently seen types of gum disease, along with information on how to detect them and how your San Diego dentist may treat each of them:
Gingivitis
This is gum disease in its mildest form and is how most severe forms of the disease begin. As bacteria in plaque attack the gums, inflammation and irritation may be noticed. It’s also possible you won’t notice anything at all. Gingivitis is the early form of gum disease that is often found in pregnant women, women who take birth control pills, people with uncontrolled diabetes, those taking steroids, and those on blood pressure or anti-seizure medications.
Treatment: When caught early, regular dental cleaning is often enough to remove bacteria and other contributors to gingivitis so that teeth aren’t damaged any further and gums can reattach to teeth and recover. The dentist who treats you for gingivitis will be careful to remove all debris from any pockets that exist, and you may be prescribed a medicated mouthwash and perhaps antibiotics make sure bacteria doesn’t return.
Chronic Periodontal Disease
Most commonly found in people who are age 45 and over, this is a widely experienced type of gum disease and can establish itself below the gum line, making it hard to detect and treat easily. When you experience chronic periodontal disease, it may appear that your teeth are actually getting longer, but in fact, your gums are receding and therefore getting shorter. For oral health, this recession must be stopped before there is significant tissue loss that can lead to loose teeth.
Treatment: Curing gum disease and restoring lost tissue is impossible. Gums that are lost cannot grow back, but proper treatment from your dental team can prevent additional damage. Treatment usually involves tooth scaling and planning to remove all the bacteria that are present and reduce rough surfaces on which it can build up. Antimicrobial treatments may be provided, including oral antibiotics and mouth rinses, and in some cases, pocket reduction surgery or tissue grafts may be necessary for successful treatment to keep teeth healthy and restore total oral health.
Aggressive Periodontal Disease
The thing that separates aggressive periodontal disease from other forms is how fast it advances. It involves the rapid loss of gums and other tissue and can lead quickly to bone loss and tooth loss. Because it moves very quickly, many who are not under the regular care of a dentist may not have time to respond before damage is done. This type of gum disease is most common in smokers and those who have a family history of aggressive periodontal disease.
Treatment: The methods of treatment for aggressive periodontal disease are very similar to the treatments recommended for chronic periodontal disease. In these cases, however, surgical options may be the best way to stop the progression of the disease so that overcoming its negative impacts is possible. Laser surgery is sometimes possible, reducing cutting and significantly reducing healing time as well. Antimicrobial products like oral antibiotics and mouth rinses may slow the disease progression rate and allow your dentist to save some impacted tissue.
Periodontal Disease In Connection With Systemic Disease
For some people, gum disease is a by-product of something else and connected with a serious ailment that their body is working to overcome. This other condition could be heart disease or stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, cancer, or any other systemic disease. In these cases, there may not be a large buildup of plaque in the mouth, so you may not realize you have gum disease. Unfortunately, the other condition means that the periodontal disease could get worse more quickly.
Treatment: The underlying problem must be treated before or in conjunction with gum disease treatment to prevent it from becoming a chronic or aggressive problem. Treatments are similar to other kinds of gum disease.
Necrotizing Periodontal Disease
This form of gum disease is most frequent in people who have HIV or another immunosuppressive disease and in those who suffer from malnutrition. Smoking and chronic stress can cause necrotizing periodontal disease as well. While this type of gum disease is very rate, it leads to permanent death of gums, other tissues, and bone.
Treatment: Treating necrotizing gum disease must be done in consultation with the doctor treating the underlying condition and is often similar to treatments for other types of gum disease.
To find out if you are in danger of gum disease, reach out to San Diego Dentist right away.