Gum Disease Prevention

Proper home care is the key…

A good oral hygiene routine practiced for a few minutes twice a day can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal diseases and tooth decay. When choosing Dental Care products, look for those that display the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance. The Seal of Acceptance is your assurance the product meets the ADA’s criteria for safety and effectiveness for its intended use.

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. With thorough brushing, you can remove plaque from the inner, outer, and chewing surfaces of each tooth. Dr. Berdy or your Dental Hygienist can show you a proper brushing technique if you have any questions.
• Clean between teeth once a day with dental floss or another interdental cleaner to remove plaque and debris from areas your toothbrush can’t reach. Rubber tip stimulators are also great tools to aid in cleaning your gums.
• If you need extra help controlling gingivitis and plaque that forms above the gum line, your dentist may recommend using an ADA-accepted antimicrobial mouthrinse or other oral hygiene aids as an effective addition to your daily oral hygiene routine.
• Eat a balanced diet for good general health and limit snacks.
• Visit your dentist regularly. Professional cleanings are the only way to remove tartar, which traps bacteria along the gum line.

Types of Periodontal Diseases

There are many types of Periodontal Diseases and they can affect individuals of all ages from children to seniors.

Gingivitisis is the mildest form of periodontal disease and causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is little to no discomfort at this stage and it is reversible with professional treatment and good home oral care.

Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth and progressive loss of tissue attachment and bone. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age and is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis.

Aggressive periodontitis is a highly destructive form of periodontal disease that occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. This disease may occur in localized or generalized patterns and can include rapid loss of tissue attachment and destruction of bone.

Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases. This form of periodontitis is associated with one of several systemic diseases, such as diabetes. Patients who have rare but specified blood diseases or genetic disorders frequently show signs of periodontal diseases.

Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases are infections characterized by necrosis (death) of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly associated with pain, bleeding, and a foul odor. Contributing factors can include emotional stress, tobacco use, and HIV infection.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal Diseases are chronic bacterial gum infections that affect the tissues and bone that support teeth and hold them in place.

Warning signs:

• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Gums that bleed easily
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose or separating teeth
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

The word periodontal means “around the tooth” and healthy gum tissue fits like a cuff around each tooth. Where the gum line meets the tooth, it forms a slight v-shaped crevice known as a sulcus, the depth of which is typically around three millimeters or less in healthy teeth. However, as tissues become damaged due to periodontal disease, the sulcus develops into a pocket that is greater than three millimeters. A special probe is used to measure pocket depths during a Periodontal Examination. Enlarged pockets make it difficult to practice effective oral hygiene as they harbor and promote the growth of harmful bacteria. If these pockets are left untreated, periodontal diseases may eventually lead to tooth and bone loss.

What causes periodontal disease?

Countless bacteria fill the mouth and certain types produce toxins and enzymes that can irritate the gums and cause inflammation. As a result of this inflammation, which can sometimes be painless, damage can occur at the attachment of the gums and bone to the teeth. Plaque, the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on the teeth and the surfaces lining the mouth, can harden into rough porous deposits called calculus, or tartar. By itself, tartar is not the main cause of periodontal disease, but the pores in tartar hold bacteria and harmful toxins, which are impossible to remove even with regular brushing and must be removed during a professional dental cleaning.

Are you at risk?

Several factors that increase the risk of periodontal disease:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco- Tobacco users are much more likely than nonusers to develop plaque and tartar on their teeth, have deeper pockets, and have greater loss of bone and tissue supporting teeth. Periodontal treatment is also less successful in patients who continue to smoke.
• Systemic diseases- Diabetes, blood cell disorders, HIV infections, and AIDS can lower the body’s natural ability to resist and fight infection, making periodontal diseases more severe
• Medications- Many drugs, such as steroids, oral contraceptives, or medications used to treat epilepsy, cancer, and blood pressure, can affect the gums or reduce saliva production. A lack of saliva can result in chronic dry mouth and cause gum irritation. Always advise your dentist of any medications you are currently taking and any changes in your health.
• Bridges that no longer fit properly, crooked, crowded teeth, or defective fillings may hold plaque in place and increase the risk of periodontal disease development.
• Hormone levels- Changes in hormone levels due to puberty, pregnancy, and oral contraceptives can cause increased sensitivity in gum tissue to toxins and enzymes and can accelerate growth of some bacteria.
• Genetics- Certain patients may be predisposed to a more aggressive, severe type of periodontitis due to genetics. A family history of tooth loss periodontal disease need to pay particular attention to the health of their gums.

Dental Implants vs. Dentures or Bridges

A Dental Implant provides several advantages over other tooth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like a natural tooth, a dental implant replaces a single tooth without sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth. The other common treatment for the loss of a single tooth, a tooth-supported fixed bridge, requires that adjacent teeth be ground down to support the cemented bridge.

What are the advantages of a single-tooth dental implant over a bridge?

Because a dental implant will replace your tooth root, the bone is better preserved. With a bridge, some of the bone that previously surrounded the tooth begins to resorb (deteriorate). Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.

Esthetic: natural looking and functioning tooth replacement.

In the long term, a single implant can be more esthetic and easier to keep clean than a bridge. Dental implants looks and feel like your own, natural teeth. Because dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and Dentures. Gums can recede around a bridge, leaving a visible defect when the metal base or collar of the bridge becomes exposed. Also, the cement holding the bridge in place can wash out, allowing bacteria to decay the teeth that anchor the bridge.

Tooth-saving: maintain the integrity of your remaining teeth.

Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health. A dental implant looks and functions like a natural tooth without sacrificing the health of your adjacent teeth.

Confidence boosting.

Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence. They are secure and offer freedom from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They’ll allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues.

Reliable: long term success.

The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. In the long term, implants are aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and functional just like a natural tooth. On the other hand, your gums and bone can recede around a bridge or denture over a period of time which may result in an unattractive smile. Implants are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement and often last a lifetime, while the expected lifespan of a bridge is only 7-10 years. Because bridges and dentures have a finite lifespan and will ultimately need to be replaced, in the long term they can be more expensive than a dental implant.