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Periodontal
Disease
More than half of all adults ages 35 and over have the early stages of
this disease. Periodontal disease is the primary cause of lost teeth after
age 35. While many adults do develop some degree of periodontal disease
as part of the aging process, there are some steps you can take to prevent
periodontal disease. If caught in its early stages, gum disease can be
reversed.
What
is Periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is cased by plaque a colorless film of bacteria that
forms on the teeth. Plaque is most harmful when these bacteria form into
colonies (about 24 hours). If not removed daily, plaque mixes with sugars
and starches to form acids and other by-products in the mouth. Plaque
irritates the gums causing them to become tender, red and swollen. If
not removed, plaque hardens to form calculus (tartar around the necks
of the teeth.) Eventually, the tissue that attaches the gums to teeth
is destroyed by the irritants in the plaque. The gums pull away from the
teeth and small pockets fill with more plaque. Eventually, the jawbone
supporting the teeth is destroyed.
Other
causes of Periodontal Disease:
1. Physical and chemical irritants: impacted food, smoking, chewing
tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, improper use of dental floss and
toothpicks.
2. Oral conditions or habits: abnormal stress on the mouth tissues; badly
aligned teeth, poor fitting bridges or partial dentures, defective fillings,
grinding or clenching the teeth or chewing ice.
3. Unbalanced diet: there is a link between nutritional deficiency and
the body's ability to fight off infection. Vitamin C deficiency has been
linked to gum disease.
4. Pregnancy: increase hormone levels may aggravate a condition referred
to as "pregnancy gingivitis"
5. Diseases: diabetes, uremia, liver cirrhosis, anemia and leukemia may
affect gums health.
6. Certain medications: oral contraceptives, anti-epilepsy drugs, steroids
and cancer therapy drugs
What
are the signs?
- Gums
that bleed when you brush your teeth
- Red,
swollen or tender gums
- Bums
that have receded or shrunken away from your teeth
- Pus
between your teeth and gums when you press your gums with your finger
-
teeth that seem loose or that change position: often the front teeth
tend to "fan" out
- A
change in your natural bite
- a
change in the way your partial dentures fit
- Bad
breath or a chronic bad taste in your mouth.
The
only way to confirm a diagnosis of periodontal disease is to have your
mouth examined, and the necessary oral x-rays taken. We also recommend
a thorough prophylaxis (tooth cleaning) for all adults at lease twice
a year. At that time we may use a special instrument called a periodontal
probe to measure the depth of the crevice (pocket); the space between
the tooth and the gum tissue. Pocket depth measurement, clinical examination
and x-rays determine the precise extent of gum disease.
Individualized
treatment may include any of the following:
- Scaling
and root planing: Scaling is removing the calculus deposits from your
teeth: root planing is the smoothing of the root surfaces so that the
gum tissue can reattach to the tooth.
- Curettage:
removes the soft tissue lining the periodontal pocket. This helps the
gum tissue to heal
- Gingivectomy:
surgical removal of periodontal pockets when the disease doesn't involve
the jaw
bone
- Flap
surgery: gains access to the root of the tooth for the removal of calculus,
plaque and diseased tissue. The gum is then secured back into place.
Flap surgery is sometimes accompanied by the osseous (bone) surgery,
in which the bone around the tooth is reshaped or part of it is removed.
Here
is what you can to do prevent or control gum disease:
Thoroughly brush and floss your teeth every day. Eat well balanced
meals and avoid sugary "junk food" snacks. Examine your mouth
for any early signs of gum disease. Visit us at least twice a year for
a thorough cleaning and oral examination.
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