Did you know that the most common cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults over the age of 30 in the United States has periodontal disease. The good news is that periodontal disease is almost entirely preventable. At Smile Care Dental Group, we offer a comprehensive range of services to help you maintain optimal periodontal health and enjoy the benefits of a smile that looks, feels, and functions at its best.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory diseases that affect the tissues surrounding and supporting your teeth. Just like tooth decay, gum disease is caused by harmful bacteria in dental plaque and tartar that accumulate around the teeth and under the gums.
Since the progression of periodontal disease is often painless, you may not even be aware of an ongoing problem. For this reason, it's essential to practice good oral hygiene and schedule regular checkups and professional cleanings.
Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
Taking care of your smile includes being mindful of warning signs. You may have periodontal disease if you notice:
- Inflamed and red gums
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Receding gums and exposed tooth root surfaces
- Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
- Teeth that feel loose
- New spaces developing between the teeth or a change in your bite
- Change in the fit of existing partial dentures
- Discharge around the teeth and gums
- Sharp or dull pain when biting down or chewing food
The Importance of Good Oral Health
Taking care of your smile does more than keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition—good oral health also supports your overall health. In addition to being the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, researchers are finding more and more links between periodontal disease and medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory issues.
At Smile Care Dental Group, we emphasize the importance of prevention, early detection, and timely treatment of periodontal disease. We provide the guidance, support, and care you need to maintain optimal periodontal health.
Understanding Gingivitis
Gingivitis represents the initial stage of gum disease. Although it doesn't cause overt discomfort and often goes unnoticed, there are specific signs to watch for. If you notice your gums bleed when you brush, look red and inflamed, or feel a little tender, you more than likely have gingivitis.
The good news is that by treating gingivitis early, the tissue damage associated with more advanced stages of gum disease can be avoided. Despite the presence of inflammation, the overall integrity of the periodontal tissues in this stage remains intact.
Treatment at this point is often sufficient to reverse the course of the disease and avoid any permanent damage. A series of deep dental cleanings, an improved home care routine, and a commitment to regular maintenance may be all that's required to prevent this stage of periodontal disease from progressing.
Understanding Periodontitis
When left untreated, gingivitis develops into a more advanced and damaging stage of gum disease known as periodontitis. At this point, the connective tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place begin to break down. With the progression of periodontal disease, more and more tissue loss occurs. Damage often includes an increase in pocketing between the teeth and bone, gum recession, and bone loss. As unresolved periodontitis goes from mild to moderate to severe, it increasingly compromises the soft and hard tissues supporting the teeth.
Periodontal treatment in this phase is designed to halt the progression of the disease and restore tooth support as much as possible. Treatment may involve medications to control the bacteria and reduce the size of the pockets between the teeth and gums, gum surgery, as well as bone and tissue grafts.
How We Help You Maintain Optimal Periodontal Health
At Smile Care Dental Group, we offer personalized, state-of-the-art solutions to help you maintain healthy gums and an attractive, well-functioning smile. As skilled providers of care, we utilize leading-edge technology and treatment methods to address a broad range of periodontal conditions and needs.
Thanks to advances in care, periodontal treatment today not only helps to halt the progression of gum disease but also delivers effective solutions, including bone grafting and regenerative procedures to repair tissue damage, restore bone volume, improve cosmetics, or provide adequate support for the placement of dental implants.
How is Gum Disease Treated?
The type of periodontal treatment you receive depends on several factors including the stage of periodontal disease, the extent of tissue damage, your overall oral health, existing medical conditions, and other considerations in care. After a thorough assessment of your case, we'll discuss your options to reestablish and maintain optimal periodontal health. We welcome your questions and are always on hand to provide guidance and address your concerns.
