Periodontal Disease
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is the inflammation of gums occurring as a result of chronic infection. It is a serious oral condition that is found in a large chunk of Americans, particularly the older generation. While it is a reversible disease, it can cause bone loss around the teeth and if untreated, lead to loss of teeth.
Periodontal Disease Symptoms
- Mild inflammation of gums
- Red and swollen gums
- Occasional bleeding (particularly during brushing)
- Affected structures are painful
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Bone loss (in severe cases)
- Irreversible tooth loss
The early stage is known as gingivitis and can be taken care at home of by maintaining good oral hygiene. If it is left untreated, it progresses to periodontal disease which is the more severe form.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
- Scaling and root planing removes plaque and calculus from the tooth surfaces and underneath the gums. Deep cleaning the teeth also smoothens the surfaces of the tooth root which prevents future plaque and bacteria accumulation. This procedure is done multiple times every 2-3 weeks till the gum tissues have healed.
- In cases of advanced periodontal disease, surgical procedures may be advised. It aims at removing the diseased gum tissue and might involve graft surgery to take care of the bone loss. The surgery is also done for cosmetic purposes if the disease has caused substantial loss of the supporting structures.
- Maintaining your oral hygiene is a key step in preventing gum disease from progressing. Brush your teeth twice and floss your teeth once a day to keep the plaque and bacteria under control. You might also be given analgesics to help with pain and antibiotics to control the infection.
If you have painful or bleeding gums, get in touch with Anoka Dental at (763) 421-4002.
