Periodontal (Gum) Health
“Periodontal” means “around the tooth.” Periodontal tissues include the gums and supportive bone that hold teeth firmly in place. Dr. Dodson and our Hygiene Team emphasize periodontal health as an important part of your care.
We will measure the space between your teeth and gums during your dental cleaning visits. Combined with diagnostic dental xrays, this process will help reveal any abnormal ‘pockets’ that are a sign of periodontal disease.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a progressive disease that begins when bacteria penetrate and grow beneath the gums. As the disease spreads, gum tissue and eventually bone become infected and are destroyed.
If left untreated, periodontal disease can break down enough bone and gum tissue to cause teeth in the affected area to become loose and eventually fall out. In most cases, periodontal disease does not hurt.
Periodontal disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults.
Common signs of periodontal disease are bleeding and swollen gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession and loose teeth.
Treatment of Periodontal Disease
If diagnosed early, periodontal disease can usually be treated non-surgically in our office. Treatment requires a careful cleaning of the tooth root surfaces (also called root planing) to remove plaque and calculus, eliminate bacterial toxins and promote healing. In more severe cases, Dr. Dodson may involve a Periodontist (surgical gum specialist) in treatment.