Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gums. It is the major cause of almost 70% of adult tooth loss. Bacterial plaque is the primary cause of gum disease.

Plaque is a sticky colorless film composed of bacteria that is constantly forming on the surface of teeth. If this layer is not regularly removed, the bacteria is allowed to grow and form more complex colonies. These colonies will produce toxins as a byproduct of their metabolism, which will breakdown the fibers that attach the gums to the teeth.

When these fibers are destroyed, there is more room between the tooth and the gums, allowing more bacteria to congregate. Eventually these pockets become deeper until the bone surrounding the tooth is affected. Bone loss will occur, the tooth will become loose and it will fall out or it will require extraction.

This process can take years to progress to a point where teeth will need to be extracted, so we can detect signs of this disease early on to prevent future catastrophe. A complete examination of the gums is conducted at the initial visit and they are re-evaluated at each hygiene visit.

Signs of gum disease are red swollen or tender gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, gums that pull away from teeth, loose or separating teeth, persistent bad breath, change in the way teeth fit together when biting, or presence of pus between the gum and tooth. In the early stages of disease a deep cleaning is the first step.

The cleaning will remove the plaque and the calcified plaque or tarter which has cemented itself onto the tooth and therefore requires aggressive cleaning above and below the gums. This cleaning is very helpful but it leaves behind a small amount of bacteria, which can cause a recurrence of the disease. A local antibiotic is placed in the pocket that has been cleaned; this eliminates any infection that may be present in the gums.

Current research shows that the bacteria found in artherosclerotic plaques in the heart and arteries, are the same found in oral plaque. This indicates that periodontal disease can contribute to coronary artery disease. We are currently using a product called Arestin which is a local antibiotic clinically proven to reduce pockets that are showing signs of disease.