Brushing teeth, flossing daily, and regular dental checkups can prevent periodontitis. Periodontitis describes gum tissue infections that often lead to jawbone deterioration and tooth loss. At the early stages, periodontics Midtown East Manhattan can address reverse inflammation and limit bone erosion. Find out how you can prevent or manage gum disease.
What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is prevalent, with statistics indicating 50% of people over 30 have the disease. Periodontal disease is a condition where the gums become inflamed.
Periodontitis starts with mild inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding your teeth. Gingivitis refers to gum disease at its onset. Gingivitis causes redness and swollen gums but does not affect the teeth and underlying bone.
If gingivitis is untreated, the inflammation progresses to mild to moderate periodontal disease. The infection forces the gum line to recede around your teeth. It may affect the soft tissue, causing tenderness and soreness.
Severe symptoms can impact your oral health at later stages of periodontitis. The tooth may loosen due to severe bone resorption. As the infection spreads, soft tissue may release a discharge and cause bad breath.
Periodontics diagnosis
Periodontics refers to a dental specialty that focuses on conditions that affect soft tissue surrounding the teeth. Therefore, a periodontist is a specialist who examines and treats periodontal structures.
Your periodontist will review your medical record to isolate the factors causing the infections. Besides plaque, other factors contributing to periodontitis may include medications, bacterial and fungal infections.
A compromised immune system and pregnancy can also increase your risk of periodontal disease. Conditions like dry mouth encourage the spread of bacteria periodontitis.
- Visual exam: Receding gums and tooth mobility are the principal characteristics of periodontitis. Your oral health specialist will check your gums for bleeding, inflammation, and recession. The detachment of gingival tissue can indicate the degree of disease progression.
- Dental x-ray imaging: Your periodontist may request an x-ray to generate images of the underlying bone. It can show the extent of bone deterioration caused by the infection. The process is critical for planning appropriate interventions to reverse bone loss.
Preventive and restorative interventions
Periodontitis requires timely interventions to reverse or contain potential complications. Consider visiting a periodontist when you notice gum soreness, tooth sensitivity, or persistent bad breath.
Your periodontist may perform the following procedure to address gum disease:
- Prescription medication: Antibiotics can address mild cases of inflammation. It kills disease-causing bacteria to arrest the progression of gingivitis to periodontal disease.
- Root planing and scaling: Root scaling and planing are procedures to clean the pockets around the tooth. Using specialized tools, your periodontist will eliminate plaque and tartar. Deep cleaning of the tooth root minimizes inflammation and prevents disease progression.
- Dental implants: Implants are necessary for cases where gum disease causes tooth loss. The device mimics the tooth’s root function and applies pressure on the gum. An implant can reduce and reverse jawbone deterioration.
Your periodontist may recommend procedures like bone grafting to restore jawbone density. Gum grafts can address severe cases of gum recession. Appropriate interventions will depend on your risk factors and diagnosis.
If you suspect you have gum disease, contact DentAlign NYC, or schedule your appointment online today.