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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.

Periodontists and Periodontics 101, Dental Specialties

Periodontics is one of the eight dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. Periodontists specialize in Periodontal work. Periodontal comes from two Greek words that mean "around the tooth." The periodontium refers to the anatomical structures around teeth: the gum, bone, and the periodontal ligament that attaches the tooth to the bone.

Periodontists are dentists that have three additional years of training to specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the diseases that affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. Periodontists also are experts in the placement and treatment of dental implants.

Periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. According to the American Dental Association, three out of four Americans over age 35 have some form of periodontal disease. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease and the most common infection in the world. But if left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis -- the loss of bone and tissues that support the teeth.

Periodontal diseases can be localized to a few teeth or generalized, in which most of the teeth are affected. It can affect people of all ages and without proper periodontal treatment, this disease can result in tooth loss and even complications of systemic diseases.

There are several different forms of periodontal disease. Each can progress at different rates. The same disease can have periods when it develops slowly and others when it progresses quite rapidly. Most of the time, periodontal diseases are painless. But they may have acute episodes that result in severe pain and a dental emergency.

The rate of periodontal disease progression is dependent on a multitude of factors, including the presence of certain risk factors that make people more susceptible to periodontal breakdown.

All periodontal disease is caused by an accumulation of bacteria at and below the gum line. The bacteria release toxic substances that trigger the breakdown of the gum and bone. The gums become red, swollen, and bleed easily. The gum tissue then separates from the teeth, forming a gap called a periodontal pocket or exposing the root surface in what is called recession.

The body responds to the bacteria with an inflammatory response in which it essentially 'turns on itself' and destructs the bone and tissues around the teeth. This is the body's way of warding off infectious agents. The teeth can start moving and shifting and eventually if there is advanced bone loss, the teeth can be lost.

Periodontal diseases are treated in three phases by periodontists. The first is to stop the disease activity and progression of bone loss. In the early stages of periodontal disease, scaling and root planning may be the only treatment needed.

The bacterial deposits (plaque and tartar) that formed above and underneath the gums need to be removed and the root surfaces of the teeth smoothed to enhance healing and deter future plaque retention. During this phase of treatment, the periodontist will review the oral hygiene technique, and give advice on the modification of certain risk factors associated with periodontal disease.

If the periodontal disease is more advanced, surgical treatment may be indicated. The purpose of this phase of treatment is to create an environment that is more amenable to health and, if possible, regenerate some of the bone that was lost to the disease.

In some forms of periodontitis, antibiotic treatment may be indicated. If this is the case, a bacterial culture may be required to test for harmful bacteria and to establish what antibiotics they are susceptible to.

Periodontal disease is a chronic disease that, like many other chronic diseases, has to be closely monitored, even after active treatment. The maintenance or third phase is crucial to the success of any treatment.

Daily brushing and flossing is essential in controlling the ever-developing plaque. So is periodic periodontal maintenance care with a Periodontists scaling of the teeth. The periodontal status has to be closely monitored so that changes can be identified and treated as early as possible.

Everyone should be routinely screened for periodontal disease. All periodontists are qualified in detecting and treating the early stages of periodontal disease, but if you suspect that you are at risk, or you know you have periodontal disease, you may want to see a periodontist who has extensive advanced training in the diagnoses and treatment of periodontal diseases.

With today's Periodontists knowledge about periodontal diseases and the new advances in treatment, you can expect to keep your teeth for a lifetime and ward off the effects that periodontal disease may have on your overall health.

By Laura Minsk, DMD