What we call “gum disease” is technically called “periodontal disease” – but whatever you call it, it’s gum inflammation that gets worse and worse over time and can lead to loss of the tissue that holds teeth in place and possibly tooth loss. Gum disease is caused by plaque, that yellowish, sticky substance that’s always trying to form on your teeth.
Gum disease is usually preventable because you can remove plaque by brushing and flossing and going for regular visits to a dentist trained in and experienced with periodontal disease. When it isn’t removed, however, gums pull away from teeth and form pockets where bacteria colonies can grow. Plaque can also harden into a different substance, tartar, that keeps gums from sealing to teeth and causes other problems too.
The first sign of periodontal disease that most people see is gingivitis, a mild gum infection. As the situation worsens, gums and other soft tissue are destroyed, allowing teeth to shift and eventually fall out. The quicker gum disease is treated by your SDDA dentist, however, the better the outcome.
Types of Gum Disease
Periodontitis, also generally called gum disease or periodontal disease
As gingivitis progresses, the body’s attempts to kill off bacteria can cause gums and other soft tissue to be destroyed permanently. Since there are very few outward signs of this progression, it can happen without you knowing it. As the tissue damage becomes more widespread, things get increasingly serious. Here are the four main forms of gum disease:
Ordinary periodontitis. This is simply gum disease in its early stages, and it can begin at a young age. Heart disease, respiratory diseases, and diabetes have been linked through research to this and all forms of periodontitis.
Chronic periodontitis. The most frequently occurring type of periodontitis, this recurring condition includes pocket formation as well as the recession of the gums. It happens in many adults and can happen in children. Attachment loss occurs slowly, but it continues to happen over the long term.
Aggressive periodontitis. This condition happens in people who are otherwise healthy. Because the worsening is aggressive, there is rapid attachment loss and bone destruction.
Necrotizing periodontal disease. This rare type of periodontal disease includes the death of soft tissue, ligaments, and bone and is most common in those with systemic conditions like HIV, malnutrition, or immunosuppression of some kind.
Types Of Gum Disease Treatment
If you believe you have gum disease or your dentist notices warning signs, you can take several paths toward limiting and reversing it. What your dentist will recommend depends on your overall health and the health of your teeth, gums, and jawbone plus a range of other factors that must be taken into consideration. That’s why a thorough dental exam is so crucial. Here are some of the gum disease treatments that may be recommended to you:
Root planing and scaling. This involves the removal of bacteria and hardened plaque to improve the health of the gums and prevent infection from spreading. Pockets and gaps are cleaned thoroughly, and you may be given antibiotics and a mouth rinse to further eliminate bacteria and prevent it from coming back.
Tissue grafting. If a lot of gum or bone tissue has been destroyed by gum disease, healthy material can be grafted from another location in your mouth, if available, to promote regeneration. A healing membrane is often placed at this kind of surgical site to support growth and healing.
Pocket reduction. By reducing the size of pockets, it is possible to reduce the space that bacterial colonies have available to them. This procedure involves removing gums in areas where the pockets are deeper than they should be.
Dental implants. After teeth have been lost from periodontal disease, a dental implant can be placed into remaining or regenerated bone to prevent spaces that could cause other teeth to spread. Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss.
Reach out to a San Diego Dentist Association member now for more about gum disease treatment. You deserve a healthy mouth and great life.