Periodontitis is a common gum disease from bacteria naturally living in your mouth but normally not posing a problem, however, when conditions are right and plaque builds up on your teeth, the bacteria dramatically multiplies posing a serious threat to the wellbeing of your teeth. Periodontitis causes the gums to become inflamed and appears as swelling, redness of the gums and sometimes bleeding while brushing your teeth. This is your body’s way of fighting the accumulating bacteria. If Periodontitis persists and is left untreated, it can spread under your gums seriously damaging your teeth and leading to surrounding bone loss and damage to the ligaments holding your teeth in place. This is normally a gradual process and can be halted if treated quickly, however, if left unchecked ultimately your teeth may loosen and fall out.
Sydenham Dental Centre offers a Gum Health Plan to help treat this disease, and restore your teeth to their optimum health.
Contact us to arrange a time to see our Dental Hygienist about your oral health.
Periodontitis Definitions
Early Periodontitis (Gingivitis)
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontitis and is caused by a build-up of plaque on the base of your teeth releasing toxins into the gumline. At this earliest stage, there is not yet any damage to the tooth’s ligaments and bone tissue – meaning that the disease and the damage can be reversed. Symptoms include gum swelling and inflammation as well as sometimes bleeding while brushing and flossing.
Moderate Periodontitis
By the time moderate periodontitis has set in, your tooth ligaments and supporting bone structure have suffered some irreversible damage. Your gums may have begun to form a pocket underneath your gumline – this pocket traps yet more food, plaque and the resultant bacteria. With this condition you will need some proper dental care as well as improved home dental hygiene to prevent any further damage.
Severe Periodontitis
This is the final stage and now you have suffered extensive dental damage. Now your tooth’s ligaments and supporting bone structure have been destroyed causing your teeth to loosen and shift. Biting and eating may have also been affected as the teeth are unsupported and moving. Aggressive dental treatment is need to save your teeth, however, at this advanced periodontitis stage, some teeth may need to be extracted.
Identifying Periodontitis
While gum disease or periodontitis can occur at any age, it is most common among adults. Here are some of the symptoms in determining if you have the gum disease.
- Swollen, tender and inflamed gums
- Bleeding gums while bushing or flossing
- Pus coming from under your gums and teeth
- Your teeth looking longer as your gums have receded
- Changes to your biting and chewing because your teeth have moved or changed the way they fit together
- Having a bad breath or bad taste in your mouth all the time
Gum Health Plan for Disease Care
The following outline of treatment shows how we may regain optimum gum health. The treatment requires a series of appointments and with your cooperation we can offer an excellent result.
Sometimes medications can influence the health of gum tissue and it is important we know any medical conditions or medication you may be taking.
The treatment includes:
- Creating a baseline chart of your condition so we can measure our results
- Help to improve your home care, especially in the more challenging areas of your mouth
- Removal of deposits of bacterial plaque and calculus (hard plaque) which have adhered to tooth and root surfaces both above and below your gums
- Smoothing or replacing rough filling surfaces which can help plaque and bacteria accumulate and make cleaning very difficult
- Irrigation of “pocketed” areas with an antiseptic or antibiotic wash
- Your diet may need to be monitored to determine any abnormally high sugar intake
For your comfort Local Anesthesia may be necessary.
Because we measure your progress we can show how effective the treatment has been. We will establish the best time frame in which to see you for continuing care.
Your commitment is essential for the lifetime success of your treatment.
We look forward to helping you further soon.