Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal simply means “the tissue around the teeth.” Periodontists specialize in the treatment and surgery of this area, which is often characterized by gum disease. Plaque is the most common element causing gum disease.

Unfortunately, periodontal-related problems are often discovered after they have persisted for an extended period of time. Proper oral hygiene, daily dental care and regular dental checkups will minimize the risk of gum disease. Gum disease ranges from mild (gingivitis) to moderate (periodintitis) to the severe (periodontitis). Treatments are available for every case of gum disease.

Common problems associated with gum disease:

• “Long” teeth (receding gum lines expose the root portions of your teeth)
• Discolored or deteriorating tooth structure
• Gum depressions (holes in between the teeth in the gum tissue)
• Infected gum line (discoloration or inflammation of the gum tissue)
• Tooth loss or tooth movement

Not only can the effects of gum disease be damaging to your dental health, recent studies have suggested that periodontal disease may also be a risk factor in heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and low birth weight babies. However, through proper preventive care and oral hygiene, you can avoid problems associated with gum disease.

For more information on periodontal disease, see http://ada.org/public/topics/periodontal_diseases_faq.asp.

Please contact our office for a periodontal evaluation.