Periodontal Disease
If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you are not alone: nearly half of the adult population in the U.S. suffer from some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the #1 reason for adult tooth loss, greater than any other dental cause! In addition, periodontal disease often does not hurt – 4 out of 5 patients with the disease are unaware they have it. It is important to maintain proper home oral care and regular dentist visits to reduce the risk of obtaining this disease, as 90% of the population has some susceptibility to it.
Periodontal disease is cause by bacteria naturally occuring in your mouth in the form of dental plaque and tartar. Generally severity depends on both the amount of bacteria and how your body responds to it. Because of this, different individuals have different amounts of risk – if a close family member such as a parent or sibling has periodontal disease, you may share this risk. Our objectives when performing an examination include:
1. Determine the extent and severity of disease
2. Determine your individual risk of current and future disease progression
The Periodontal examination
When we perform an examination, a critical step in determining the extent and severity of disease is performed by periodontal probing. Please see the video below for explanation of the purpose of this important examination step.
Periodontitis vs. Gingivitis: What’s the Difference?
Gingivitis involves inflammation of the gum tissue, but no bone loss. Gingivitis is always a precursor to periodontitis, so bleeding gums are a serious concern for your dental and overall health!