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Did you know that periodontitis, or more commonly referred to as gum disease, affects approximately 80% of those over thirty? While periodontal therapy can treat this disease, if periodontitis is left to its own devices due to a doctor failing to diagnose it or a patient not seeking treatment, it can cause devastating tooth and gum damage. What Is Periodontitis? Periodontitis causes tooth loss and decay by inflicting damage on the tissues that surround a tooth. It’s most commonly caused by one not practicing good, daily oral and dental hygiene and by avoiding dental cleanings. However, other more subtle factors can cause periodontitis, such as: • Pregnancy or puberty, both of which cause a drastic change in hormone levels and making a person more vulnerable to gum disease
• Daily habits such as jaw clenching and teeth grinding can whittle away the tissues around your teeth
• Medications can restrict saliva flow and cause a dry mouth
• Diabetes or kidney disease can limit the body’s sugar production capabilities Symptoms of Periodontitis The most obvious sign of gum disease is the loss of one or many teeth. However, by this point the gum disease has irrevocably progressed and you will need restorative dentistry to fix the damage done. Early warning signs are: • Bleeding gums after eating
• Sensitive or red gums
• Bad breath
• Blood on your tooth brush or while flossing
• Loose or shifting teeth Gum Disease Treatment If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, you have many periodontal therapy treatment options. Your doctor will discuss these with you and depending on the severity of your disease, you can have either surgical or non-surgical treatment. Scaling is a non-surgical treatment where plaque, calculus and stains are removed from the crown and root surfaces of the teeth. Periodontal scaling commonly precedes root planning, which is a treatment designed to rid cementum and/or rough dentin. If periodontitis is caught early enough, these two treatment options are often enough; however scaling and root planning are sometimes part of presurgical therapy for more advanced cases. Antibiotics are another non-surgical treatment option and may be prescribed as pills or as an antibiotic fiber. This is used in conjunction with root planning and scaling. Occasionally, antibacterial mouth rinses are prescribed to constrain plaque growth. If your bite is misaligned, it’s vital to have your teeth adjusted and bite corrected to avoid further bone destruction. Laser Dentistry Treatment Today’s technology has created numerous gum treatments that can be performed using laser dentistry techniques, such as: • Gingivectomy – Unhealthy gums are trimmed to eliminate a conducive environment for bacteria growth and to allow healthy gum tissue to return
• Crown lengthening – If you have a gummy smile, excess gum and bone tissue can be reshaped to show more of the natural tooth Periodontitis is a devastating disease and needs to be addressed quickly. If you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, don’t prolong scheduling a consultation with your dentist. If you live in Manhattan or the New York City area and believe you might have gum disease, please visit the website of Dr. Michael Iott & Associates today to schedule an initial gum treatment consultation.
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