Dr. Boehler answers your questions about periodontal disease

 

Dr. Boehler answers your questions about Periodontal Disease

I have had such a positive response from my "Dr. Boehler answers your questions about Root Canal Therapy" that I thought I would continue and make this a series. Today's Questions pertain to Periodontal Disease. Also, if you have questions or a suggestion about a particular dental or facial esthetics topic that you would like me to address, please send me a note, text or email and let me know. SO, WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE? Periodontal disease is a serious infection affecting the gums and also the bone holding the teeth in place. Most people with this disease have a chronic bacterial infection, usually Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis and sometimes Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. Since it is a bacterial infection, periodontal disease (or at least the bacteria that causes it) can be transmitted to other people via close contact. If other precipitating factors are present, that person can then begin to have active disease. HOW COMMON IS IT? Although Periodontal Disease is almost entirely preventable, it is very common. According to the CDC, 47% of the US population over 30 have some areas of periodontal disease and once 65 and older it goes up to a prevalence of 70% HOW DO I GET PERIODONTAL DISEASE? • Plaque forms on your teeth when starches and sugars in food interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day removes plaque, but plaque re-forms quickly. If an area on the teeth is missed in a 24 hour period, this plaque begins to harden. • Plaque can harden under your gumline into tartar (calculus) if it stays on your teeth. Tartar is more difficult to remove and it's filled with bacteria. The longer plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the more damage they can do. You can't get rid of tartar by brushing and flossing — you need a professional dental cleaning to remove it. • Plaque can cause gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. Gingivitis is irritation and inflammation of the part of your gum tissue around the base of your teeth (gingiva). Gingivitis can be reversed with professional treatment and good home oral care. • Ongoing gum inflammation can cause periodontitis, eventually causing pockets to develop between your gums and teeth that fill with plaque, tartar and bacteria. In time, these pockets become deeper, filling with more bacteria. If not treated, these deep infections cause a loss of tissue and bone, and ultimately you may lose one or more teeth. Also, ongoing chronic inflammation can put a strain on your immune system. WHAT ELSE DOES PERIODONTAL DISEASE AFFECT?  Because it is a chronic infection, and puts a strain on your immune system, it affects your entire body. It increases the risk a person has for head and neck cancer. It has been linked to diabetes, making it harder to regulate insulin levels and increasing the risk of premature death in diabetics by as much as 400-700%. IT also increases your risk of getting diabetes by 93%. Pregnant women with periodontal disease have an 86% chance of having a baby with low birth weight or other health issues. Your risk of dying from heart disease is 2x more likely with periodontal disease and you are also 3x more likely to have a stroke and die. Your risk for Alzheimers, Dementia and Rheumatoid Arthritis is increased. And your risk for Pancreatic Cancer and Kidney Cancer is also increased by 62%. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? People may notice bleeding gums that are red and puffy. They may also detect a bad odor accompanied by a bitter, metallic, unpleasant taste. This is often from pus that is draining from some of the more advanced active sites. However, just as often the symptoms are hidden and silent and are only detected during a dental examination. Periodontal probing is done to check for how well the gum tissues are attached to the surrounding bone, as well as if any of the jaw bone has been attacked and dissolved away by the bacteria. SO, HOW DO I GET RID OF IT? The American Academy of Periodontology treatment guidelines stress that periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment. Non-surgical periodontal treatment does have its limitations. When it does not achieve periodontal health, surgery may be indicated to restore periodontal health. SCALING AND ROOT PLANING Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus [tartar] from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. In our office, Scaling and root planing is often supplemented with laser therapy to help further sterilize the deep pocket and also stimulate healing cells into the area. Most dentists and periodontists would agree that after scaling and root planing, many patients do not require any further active treatment. However, the majority of patients will require ongoing maintenance therapy to sustain health. This is called a periodontal maintenance appointment and would be done usually every 3 or 4 months in place of your dental prophylaxis appointment with the hygienist. ARE THERE FACTORS THAT INCREASE MY LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING PERIODONTAL DISEASE? • Gingivitis • Poor oral health habits including limited professional hygiene visits • Smoking or chewing tobacco • Hormonal changes, such as those related to pregnancy or   menopause • Recreational drug use, such as smoking marijuana or vaping • Obesity • Inadequate nutrition, including vitamin C deficiency • Genetics • Certain medications that cause dry mouth or gum changes • Conditions that cause decreased immunity, such as leukemia,   HIV/AIDS and cancer treatment • Certain diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and   Crohn's disease The good news is Periodontal Disease can be treated. Reversing the damage caused is often difficult, but stopping future damage and maintaining the bone remaining is important. Like most illnesses, early detection is key. I hope this has given you some more insight into Periodontal (gum) disease, its causes, its ramifications, and it's treatments. Call our office if you would like me to review your periodontal (gum) health with you and offer you treatment options. As always, with warmest smiles! Dr. Angela Boehler "The Youth Fairy"