Periodontal Disease means bone loss. It is when bacteria around the gums eat away at the bone holding your teeth in place.  Once this happens, treatment options such as laser surgery and bone grafting are available but expensive.  Even then, these procedures act as damage control, because the bone you lose you will never grow back.

Zila’s (Rotadent Toothbrush Co.) Periodontal Signs and Symptoms

Healthy

• Gums have healthy pink color
• Gum line hugs teeth tightly
• No bleeding

Gingivitis

• Gums bleed easily when brushed or probed gently during examination
• Gums are inflamed and sensitive to touch
• Possible bad breath and bad taste
• Gums between teeth may look blush-red in color

Early Periodontitis

• Gums may pull away from the teeth
• More pronounced bleeding, puffiness and inflammation
• Bad breath and bad taste
• Pockets of 4mm between teeth and gum in one or more area of the mouth

Moderate Periodontitis

• Periodontal abscesses may develop
• Gums recede and teeth look longer
• Front teeth may begin to drift, showing spaces
• Bad breath, bad taste
• Pockets from 4 to 6mm deep between teeth and gums

Advanced Periodontitis

• Teeth may become mobile or loose
• Bad breath and bad taste are constant
• Roots may be exposed; sensitive to hot and cold
• Severe horizontal and angular bone loss on X-ray
• Pockets in excess of 6mm deep between teeth and gums

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease by Zila

• Red swollen and tender gum
• Gums that bleed after brushing or flossing
• Persistent bad breath
• Pain while chewing
• Loose teeth

Virtually everyone has some sort of bone loss. Some bone loss occurs when you lose a tooth or when you have braces.  The yearly x-ray monitors your bone level in addition to cavities.  It allows the doctor to detect bone loss before it becomes a big problem.  If the bone support around your teeth is allowed to decrease unchecked, your teeth will loosen and eventually fall out.

There are many different factors that enable periodontal disease to be active. Smokers tend to have active periodontal disease and should get 4 cleanings a year (every three months). In addition certain medications, diabetes and other systemic diseases can be enable periodontal disease to be active.

Our goal in the dentist office is to keep your periodontal disease in remission and give you the right tools to clean your teeth so you can keep plaque and infections away.