Gum disease, known in the dental field as periodontal disease, is a very serious affliction of the gums that can ultimately
lead to painful gums, tooth loss, and bone infections if left untreated.
Periodontitis can be prevented with proper hygiene and oral
care, but if it does develop, you are not without help. A skilled Houston dentist
can treat the problem and send you home with the means to stave off the
infection and get back to normal.
Severity Level
Periodontitis is the second of three levels for periodontal
disease.
Level 1:The
first level is gingivitis,
which is usually a nuisance, but doesn’t otherwise affect the patient on a
grand scale.
Level 2:Once
gingivitis advances, or is skipped entirely at times, periodontitis poses a more serious threat. At this stage, the gums
can become tender to the touch and discolored, pus may be seen around the gums,
and teeth may become separated from their neighbors or become loose.
Level 3:The
next stage of periodontitis, advanced periodontitis, poses even greater risks, such as losing teeth and
having an infection in the jawbone.
Risks, Causes, and
Symptoms
There are certain factors that can affect the development of
gum disease:
●
Carcinogens and
toxins found in cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products increase the
risk of periodontal disease and lung or mouth cancer.
●
Weakened immune systems of diabetics.
●
The greatest, most common risk, however, comes from poor oral hygiene habits. Taking good care
of your teeth will do a lot more than make them look good; it can very well
prevent diseases.
The actual cause of periodontitis is the hardening of plaque
at the gum line to form tartar. This denser form of plaque is home to a whole
colony of bacteria that looks for a new food source: the soft tissue of the
gums.
Ultimately, this infestation leads to an infection, which
becomes periodontitis.
The earliest symptoms of gum disease you might notice are
those of gingivitis: swollen or bleeding gums. With great care, you can reverse
the course of gum disease at this stage, but leaving it untouched can cause it
to progress.
When the gums become a bright red or purple color, become
swollen and tender, and have a perpetual bad breath even after brushing,
they’ve reached the stage of periodontitis. In more severe cases, you might
also notice loose teeth, a space developing between teeth, or pus.
Periodontal Disease
Treatment in Houston
●
A visual
examination is performed at our Tanglewood dentist office to determine the
extent of the gum disease.
●
A dental probe
checks for pocket depth under the gums. Shallow pockets mean healthy gums while
deep pockets signify infection.
●
If deep pockets are found, x-ray imaging checks the inside of gums and the surrounding bones
and teeth.
●
In minor to moderate cases of periodontal disease, we
perform scaling to scrape the
hardened tartar from the teeth and under the gums.
○
This process can be uncomfortable, but with sedation dentistry reduces
the amount of discomfort felt during the procedure.
●
In more severe cases, root planing is also used. This procedure smooths
out the roots of the teeth to reduce the area where bacteria can cling and
cause further infection.
●
Lastly, an antibiotic
may be prescribed to kill off any remaining infection.
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