Periodontal (Gum) Disease
Teaneck, NJ
What Is Periodontal Disease?
 Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is a serious infection of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. It primarily affects the gums, but if left untreated, it can also impact the bone that supports the teeth, which can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is generally caused by the accumulation of plaque.
Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth. If not properly removed through regular brushing and flossing, plaque can harden into tartar. Tartar can only be removed by dental professionals, like us here at RJ Dental.
Causes and Risk Factors
The main cause of periodontal disease is the failure to properly take care of the oral cavity. This typically means the patient has failed to brush and floss twice a day and failed to come in for regular cleanings and exams. Oral bacteria will continue to build up to toxic levels every time patient fails to brush or floss.
There are factors which can increase the patient's chance to get the disease. For instance, if the patient is pregnant, going through menopause, or puberty, they can be at a higher risk to contract the disease because of hormone changes. Also, patients who abuse alcohol or who smoke tobacco products are at risk.
Symptoms and Signs
Would you believe that some patients might not realize that they have periodontal disease? Well, it is true. Sometimes there are none of the specific noticeable signs of the disease. Due to that there is nothing for the patient to notice whether during brushing or flossing or by self-examination. If they do not have bleeding while brushing and flossing and no pain associated with chewing or eating, then they likely will not think they have gum disease.
Importance of Early Detection
Our team will provide an assessment and evaluation to determine if a patient has periodontal disease and if so, what stages the disease is in. By determining this, it helps us to narrow the scope of our treatment recommendation.
We typically start with a thorough medical history to determine if the patient has any of the contributing factors which can increase the likelihood of developing the disease. One such factor is the use of tobacco products. It does not matter if they smoke cigars, cigarettes, pipes or use chewing tobacco, the patient is in a higher risk category if they use it. Also, some medications can also impact the chances a particular patient has the disease.
We will visually check the gums and teeth as well as the interior lining of the cheek and tongue as well as look at plaque buildup to see if the disease has started. All patients have pockets along the gumline, and these can increase in size with periodontal disease.
Our dentists will measure the pockets to determine if the disease has started. Our staff will also use x-rays to determine if any bone mass loss has occurred which is also another sign of periodontal disease.
How Is Periodontal Disease Diagnosed?
Even if patients have noticeable symptoms like bleeding gums or pain when eating, a professional assessment needs to happen before the patient can be diagnosed with periodontal disease. During the assessment, our staff will check for decay or damage and look for gum recession and loss of jawbone mass, all of which are signs of periodontal disease and gum infection.
Treatment Options
There are multiple stages to this progressive disease, though it can only be cured while in the stage known as gingivitis. When it moves beyond that stage into advanced gum disease, called periodontitis, it cannot. The only thing that can be done at that point is to treat the symptoms and monitor the progression of the disease.
There are both surgical and non-surgical treatment protocols available, though the non-surgical variety are generally only used in the early stages while surgical treatments are reserved for the late stages.
Non Surgical Treatments
Those patients with concerns about surgical procedures will be happy to hear that in the early stages, non-surgical treatments are recommended. Non-surgical options include periodontal maintenance treatments, during which the dentist performs scaling and root planing, as well as antibiotic prescriptions. These approaches are designed to limit the dangerous bacteria in the mouth.
Surgical Treatment Options
Various surgical treatment options are available to treat gum disease. These include:
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Bone Grafts - Bone grafts are used to replace lost bone mass in the upper and lower jawbones.
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Flap Surgery - During the surgery, the dentist or periodontist creates a flap by lifting the gums away from the teeth to access the roots and underlying bone. This allows for deep cleaning of tartar, plaque, and infected tissue from the tooth roots and the bone surrounding them.
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Gum Grafts - Tissue is typically taken from the roof of the mouth or another donor source and grafted onto the affected area to cover the exposed roots. Gum grafts help restore the gum line, protect the tooth roots from decay, reduce sensitivity, and improve the overall appearance of the teeth and gums. |
Maintaining Healthy Gums
The best way to maintain healthy gums is to brush twice daily and floss at least once per day. Regular brushing and flossing keeps the teeth and gums clean, and free from bacteria. Be sure to schedule dental visits every six months so that you can receive a professional teeth cleaning and we can do dental X-rays. X-rays help us see what is going on in your mouth and jawbone, and also allow us to monitor any changes over time.
Learn More About Periodontal Care
FAQs
What Are the Early Signs of Gum Disease?
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal disease and the only point in which the disease can be cured. Some gum disease symptoms include sore gums, bleeding gums, gum inflammation, and sensitivity for both the gums and the teeth.
How Can I Prevent Periodontal Disease?
Believe it or not, but the best way to prevent periodontal disease is to brush and floss at least twice a day and to schedule cleanings and exams two times a year.
What Happens if Gum Disease Is Left Untreated?
If gum disease is left untreated, it can result in unwanted consequences, including sensitive and sore gums and teeth. Eating becomes painful. Receeding gums can also occur, which cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, causing them to loosen and potentially even fall out. Lost teeth result in the need for prosthetics such as dental bridges and dental implants.
How Often Should I Get My Gums Checked?
You should come in every six months to have your regular dental cleaning and exam, and to have your gums checked. Depending on the condition of your gums, and if you have periodontal disease or not, we may ask you to come in more often for periodontal care and maintenance.
Schedule a Periodontal Check UpToday!
Any patient who suspects they might have periodontal disease or who has just been diagnosed with the disease should come in to see us at one of our offices, where we can do a proper assessment and recommend an appropriate course of treatment.
Call us in Teaneck, NJ at (551) 369-2001 or Roselle, NJ at (908) 488-5005 to schedule today. |
