Periodontitis, also referred to as periodontal disease, is a gum disease that has reached an advanced state and often requires treatment by a periodontist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about half of American adults aged 30 and over have some form of periodontal disease.
What Is Periodontitis?
There are two basic stages of the disease. The early stages of gum disease, better known as gingivitis, can lead to more advanced stages (periodontitis) if proper care is not taken early on. Many patients may not even be aware that they have gingivitis until it becomes a more serious issue since there is often no overt symptoms. But even in cases where the symptoms are mild, the disease can easily advance to a more serious state if not promptly treated by a dental professional.
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the gums and the jawbone, which anchors the teeth, when plaque that naturally forms on teeth spreads, grows and hardens below the gum line. Since plaque contains bacteria, toxins that are produced from the bacteria irritate the gums and cause the body to attack the infected tissue and bone and eventually cause them both to deteriorate. As the gums break down and recede, bone is lost and structural support is diminished. This results in teeth that commonly become loose and can eventually fall out or need to be extracted.
What Are The Symptoms of Periodontitis?
As mentioned before, there may be only mild or no symptoms at all in the early stages of the disease, although if you keep to a regular schedule of preventative dental visits, your dentist will be able to see the signs. Symptoms become more severe and noticeable once the periodontitis progresses. You may very well start to notice inflammation, redness and bleeding of the gums initially, and eventually will become aware that the gums are receding and forming pockets as tissue and bone are destroyed. The presence of bacteria under the gum line may cause chronic bad breath and overall irritability of the gum tissue. These symptoms should not be ignored. Early diagnosis and treatment can alleviate or even reverse the effects of periodontal disease in many cases and can avoid you needing to see a periodontist for invasive treatments.
What Causes Periodontitis?
Plaque is a sticky film that naturally forms on teeth when sugars and starches interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth. Although regular brushing and flossing will remove most plaque, it is known to re-form quite quickly, usually within one day. Plaque that is not properly removed will harden into what is known as tartar, which is more difficult to remove. Once tarter has formed, a professional dental cleaning is required to remove it, especially if it has formed deep under the gum line.
Gingivitis and periodontitis are often caused by poor oral hygiene. Proper oral care, along with regular dental checkups and cleanings can help prevent the initial onset of gingivitis. However, although proper daily care can help prevent gum disease there are other factors that can trigger the onset of the disease, including genetic predisposition, diabetes, stress, poor nutrition, hormonal fluctuations, substance abuse, diabetes and smoking. If you are at risk of developing periodontal disease due to known risk factors, it may be worth scheduling periodic visits with a periodontist to keep the potential for serious disease in check.
How Do I Treat Periodontitis?
If you are diagnosed with gingivitis or advanced periodontitis, you should schedule an appointment to see a periodontist, a dentist who has received additional training in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. Many general dental practices have a periodontist on staff that will be able to provide a comprehensive periodontal evaluation in order to gauge your oral health, assess risk, diagnose existing disease and provide treatment if needed.
For more information about periodontal services offered in our Queens dental office, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
