What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is the serious infection of the gums and other tissues surrounding the teeth. Millions of Americans have periodontal disease. Left untreated, it can lead to tooth and bone loss. The welcome news is that periodontal treatment can make your mouth healthier and help you keep you teeth.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Though the symptoms of periodontal disease are often subtle, the disease is not entirely without warning signs:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste
• Formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Changes in the way teeth fit together when you bite

If you possess any of these symptoms, be sure to contact our office today so that we can set up an appointment as soon as possible.

Treatment

The first nonsurgical step usually invovles a special cleaning called "scaling and root planing," to remove plaque and tartar deposits on the tooth and root surfaces. This procedure helps gum tissue to heal and periodontal pocket to shrink. This is sometimes referred to as "periodontal cleaning" or "deep cleaning."

Dr. Aschacher may also recommend medications to help control infection

and pain, or to aid in healing. these medications could include a pill, a mouthrinse or a substance that the dentist places directly in the periodontal pocket after scaling and root planing.

At the next visit Dr. Aschacher will check your pocket depth to determine the effect of the scaling and root planing. At this point, many patients do not require any further active treatment, only preventive care.

If the pockets are deep and the supporting bone is lost, surgery may be necessary to help prevent tooth loss. Surgery allows Dr. Aschacher to access hard-to-reach areas under the gum and along the roots where tartar and plaque have accumulated. Eliminating this bacterial stronghold and regenerating bone and tissue help to reduce pockets and repair damage caused by the progressing disease.

The Periodontal / Heart Disease Link

Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease. The reason for this is that oral bacteria can affect the heart when they enter the blood stream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation. Coronary artery disease is characterized by a thickening of the walls of the coronary arteries due to the buildup of fatty proteins. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly. This may lead to heart attacks.

With this understanding in mind, treating gum disease early becomes that much more important!

You don't have to lose teeth to periodontal diseases. Brush, clean between your teeth, eat a balanced diet, avoid tobacco and schedule regular dental visits for a lifetime of healthy smiles.