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What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection. It develops when dental plaque accumulates on tooth surfaces.
Dental plaque is continually forming, and most is removed when you brush and floss regularly. Anything that isn’t removed hardens into tartar or calculus and is too hard to be removed during daily oral care. At this stage, it can only be removed during your professional dental cleaning.
Plaque and tartar are harmful because they contain bacteria that thrive on food particles and release toxins, which can trigger periodontitis and worsen periodontal disease, sometimes requiring LANAP, bone graft, or gum graft. These toxins infect and inflame your gums, causing periodontal disease.
Initially, periodontal disease causes few, if any, noticeable symptoms. However, as it worsens, it gradually begins to destroy your gums, and the infection can spread from your gums to the bone surrounding your teeth and to your periodontal ligaments, which hold your teeth in their sockets.
There are two stages of periodontal disease.
Gingivitis
The first stage is called gingivitis, at which point the infection and inflammation are mild and entirely reversible, provided you see a dentist quickly.
Periodontitis
The second stage is periodontitis, at which point the gum disease has advanced significantly and may become chronic. Gum recession is well underway, and at least some jawbone around teeth has likely been destroyed, so teeth could even feel loose.
Periodontitis is much more complex to treat, requiring ongoing care from a periodontist.
Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
You may hear periodontal disease referred to as a “silent disease,” because the early signs are so mild that they are easy to miss or ignore. As the disease worsens, so do the symptoms. Below are some of the signs to look out for, which include:
- Red or purple colored gums.
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss or at other times.
- Sore, tender gums.
- Persistent bad breath.
- An unpleasant taste.
- Pain when you bite or chew.
- Teeth that look longer due to gum recession, and you may start to see the tooth roots appear.
- Loose teeth.
- Changes to the way your teeth bite together.
Risk Factors for Gum Disease
Anyone can develop gum disease at any age, but certain risk factors can mean you are more likely to develop this disease, including:
- Family History
If you have a family history of gum disease, your risk of developing it could be higher. Although this could be due to genetics, it may also be due to poor oral hygiene routines that have been passed down from parent to child.
- Poor Oral Care
A lack of oral hygiene is a major cause of gum disease, as it allows harmful plaque and tartar to build up on tooth surfaces.
- Smoking
People who smoke are much more likely to develop gum disease, especially as this habit can mask the early signs of gingivitis. This is because nicotine constricts blood vessels, making the gums less likely to bleed when you brush and floss.
- Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes at certain life stages can increase the risk of gum disease because the hormones make gum tissue more sensitive to plaque bacteria. Consequently, it is more likely to become infected and inflamed. These life changes include puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
- Medical Conditions
Certain medical issues can increase the risk of developing periodontal disease, including heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease and lupus.
- Over-the-Counter & Prescription Medications
Many medications cause xerostomia, or dry mouth, making it difficult to produce enough saliva to keep the mouth fresh, clean, and comfortable. The dry conditions also allow bacteria to thrive, increasing the risk of developing oral diseases, including periodontal disease.
Diagnosing Periodontal Disease
Your gum health is assessed during every hygiene appointment by our hygiene team. During this visit, your gums are assessed visually before a periodontal probe is used to check for signs of gum recession. The periodontal probe is a small instrument inserted between your gum and tooth, measuring the depth of this space.
These measurements help check for any signs of periodontal disease. If the depth is greater than 3 mm, it can indicate gum recession and the development of larger spaces between each tooth and gum, known as periodontal pockets.
We may also wish to take diagnostic images, which could include 2D digital X-rays and a cone-beam CT scan, to assess your oral health further. These will indicate whether the gum infection has affected the bone surrounding your teeth, and if so, how much bone may have been compromised.
After the exam, our findings will be discussed with you. If we detect signs of periodontal disease, we may recommend that you consult our periodontal team.
Diagnosing gum disease is straightforward, and Dr. Navid Rahmani or another of our board-certified periodontists can provide a complete periodontal evaluation. The evaluation will determine the degree of gum infection and allow us to develop a suitable treatment plan.
Treating Periodontal Disease
We offer a broad range of treatments for periodontal disease. Our periodontists utilize the latest and most up-to-date techniques to help control this disease and address any issues it may have created.
Possible treatments can include a combination of nonsurgical and surgical procedures designed to help remove as many harmful bacteria as possible, allowing your gums to fight the infection and restore good gum health.
Treatment may involve deep cleaning of your gums, and you may need regular appointments to help control this condition.
We frequently use laser therapy during these procedures, as it is a gentle technique that is highly effective in sterilizing the treated areas, helping to eliminate a greater number of harmful bacteria.
Our surgical techniques are the most advanced available and include LANAP gum surgery and other complex procedures. A receding gums treatment typically involves gum grafting, and we can also provide gum abscess treatments. Bone grafting can restore tissues damaged by severe periodontal disease.
FAQs
Is Periodontal Disease Reversible?
Once periodontal disease has damaged the structures supporting your teeth, these can only be replaced surgically through advanced periodontal care. Your gums and jawbone will not grow back.
Additionally, advanced gum disease or periodontitis is incurable, but it is manageable with the right treatment plan. The early stage of periodontal disease that is reversible is gingivitis.
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Can I Catch Periodontal Disease?
If you kiss someone with periodontal disease or regularly share utensils with them, then some of the harmful bacteria that cause this condition will be passed onto you. Although you can’t catch periodontal disease, sharing saliva with someone who has this condition may increase your risk of developing periodontitis.
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Can I Prevent Gum Disease?
Maintaining good oral health through regular preventative dental care greatly reduces the risk of developing gum disease. We strongly recommend everyone see a dentist and hygienist regularly so we can monitor your oral health and clean your teeth professionally.
During these appointments, we can also assess your risk of developing periodontitis based on your dental and medical health. If necessary, we may recommend further preventive dental care, such as more frequent hygiene appointments, to help you maintain your oral health more easily.
Good oral care at home is also essential and should include brushing and flossing twice daily, every day. When you use the right brushing and flossing techniques, many of the harmful bacteria that cause this condition are removed.
Have You Noticed Your Gums Have Started to Bleed or Look Swollen?
Contact us, as bleeding gums are not normal. Seeking periodontal treatment in Midtown East as early as possible increases the chances of reversing this condition. Early treatment can save you time and money, and help prevent future tooth loss. It can also protect your overall health.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th St #801
New York, NY 10017
(45th St. btw 5th Ave / Madison Ave)
(212) 518-6096