Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection. When left untreated, this  bacterial infection can lead to loss of some, or all of your teeth.  It is reported that 70 % of all teeth lost is due to untreated periodontal disease. The chronic bacterial infection starts when a film of sticky bacterial plaque forms around the teeth as a result of poor oral hygiene.  Although other factors influence the onset and progression of periodontal disease such as heredity, smoking, diet and stress, local accumulation of unremoved bacterial plaque is the main and most significant cause of this disease. 

Even if you spend a lot of time brushing your teeth, if it is not done properly, the bacteria will form plaque. As plaque forms, the gums become inflamed. Inflammation is red in color, there is swelling or puffiness, and there may be a tendency to bleed easily. In this early stage, the periodontal disease is referred to as gingivitis.

If your teeth are professionally cleaned, the gingivitis condition can reverse itself and return to normal healthy gums. When left untreated, gingivitis may progress to the more advanced stage called periodontitis. When periodontitis occurs you will find plaque accumulating in greater quantity below the gums where it becomes calcified on the surface of the roots and is known as tartar or calculus.  The larger quantity of plaque at this stage starts to produce a bad toxin which causes a series of biologic  reactions to occur around the teeth. These include severe bleeding, noxious odor (foul breath), and separation of the gums from the tooth and loss of supporting tooth structure. Sometimes, an abscess may form called a periodontal abscess.

The loss of bone associated with periodontitis is measured by an xray evaluation together with an instrument called a periodontal probe.  The probe is gently placed in a space between the gum and the tooth called a pocket.  Normal gum pocket depth is 1 - 3 millimeters.  When bone is lost,  the pocket depth readings start to measure in the 5 -7 millimeter range.  At this point, periodontal surgery may be necessary to correct the disease process.