Local Dental Care - Gum Cancer Signs

Periodontitis and Gum Disease Treatment

It's natural to want to lump people together in some Big Category. Natural, but wrong. Like, "Baby Boomer." President Clinton and home run slugger Mark McGwire are both "Boomers." But are these two guys exactly alike?

It's the same in health and dental care. Your oral chemistry is as unique as your thumbprint. Yet magazine stories claim "you" need only one dental appointment a year to stay healthy. They don't know you. They're referring to an "average" patient. Dental insurance plans also tend to believe in this mythical "average patient" and may not pay for more than a biannual visit.

Sure, two visits are fine for many patients, even most. But some mouths build up more tartar than others. Others are naturally decay-prone. Still others - and this is critical - may be showing signs of periodontal (gum) disease.

Bleeding gums need to be taken seriously. They're signs of an infection that can be a significant risk factor for heart disease, and, in fact, many serious illnesses. If you had a bleeding sore on your hand that didn't heal you'd get to a doctor for a checkup, right? Type I periodontitis (gingivitis) consists of tender gums and a little bacteria-filled pocket between your tooth and gum. It's easily treatable at this point. But if the infected pockets are allowed to enlarge and you get swollen gums, that inflammation can extend to the bone beneath and erode it.

Your periodontist's concern is for your health and your teeth, not whether you've made the standard number of appointments for this year. He or she wants the chemistry to be right in your mouth... and between the two of you.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

The Lowdown on Gum Disease

Dentistry has surely shifted its focus from cavity control, thanks to fluoride and early dental care. Now we are learning more about periodontal disease, and for good reason. These days, tooth loss is the likely result of gum disease.

Q. I used to come in twice a year for cleanings. Now the dental hygienist says I need more attention, more often. My insurer limits coverage to six-month visits. What's up?

A. First, we know more about diagnosing the disease and have come upon some very dangerous systemic relationships to other conditions. That is, if you have heart problems, diabetes, or you're expecting a baby, we'll have to watch you closer than the next patient. Ongoing treatment for advanced mouth disease (periodontitis), too, should be scheduled more often.

Q. OK. What will periodontal treatment cost? I want to keep all the teeth I have.

A. You'll have to contact your periodontist's office for specific pricing but to treat a light case of gingivitis - the very first stages of disease - is the least expensive. Deep pockets around teeth and apparent bone loss - a complex case - will cost more. Periodontitis that requires surgery, and maybe the services of a specialist, costs much, much more. A good argument for early gum disease treatment and prevention.

Q. When you're done with me, am I cured?

A. Periodontal and gum disease prevention is the best defense because nobody walks away from it. Unfortunately, periodontal disease is incurable. But with your help, we can keep it under control. So much of your tissue health depends on how much work you're willing to put in. There's nothing magical about brushing and flossing. You just have to do it.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.