Periodontics

What is Periodontics?

Periodontics is an area of dentistry focused on treating the structures that support your teeth. These include your gums, jawbone, and periodontal ligaments.

Your jawbone is made from a type of bone called alveolar bone. Periodontal ligaments are pieces of tissue that help to secure your teeth in your tooth sockets. They are designed to absorb some of the pressure when you bite and chew food, just like tiny shock absorbers, so they are slightly stretchy.

Periodontal care is needed if these structures become damaged or destroyed, putting you at risk of loose teeth and tooth loss. Often, this damage occurs due to periodontitis, an infection caused by bacteria in dental plaque and tartar.

What Is a Periodontist?

Mild to moderate periodontitis can be treated non surgically with procedures like deep cleaning. However, when periodontitis is advanced, we may advise seeing a periodontist for specialized care.

This is a dental specialist with several years of advanced training. Periodontists can also provide other advanced treatments, such as dental bone grafting and dental implant treatment.

Signs You May Need Periodontal Care

Signs that indicate your gums are infected or inflamed include:

• Red, tender, or swollen gums.
• Bleeding gums.
• Receding gums so your teeth start to look longer.
• A nasty taste.
• Bad breath.
• Changes to your bite or discomfort when biting and chewing.
• Loose teeth.

Periodontal Conditions We Can Treat

Dental Pearl can diagnose and treat conditions affecting your gums, including:

• Gingivitis. This is the first stage of gum disease and is reversible with prompt dental care.
• Periodontitis. This condition can range from mild to moderate to more severe. Sometimes the condition is chronic and may require a combination of nonsurgical and surgical treatments to control it.
• Jawbone loss. When jawbone loss has occurred, dental bone grafting can restore it, helping to stabilize and protect loose teeth.

Dental bone grafting is often necessary in preparation for dental implant treatment, and when the alveolar bone has been destroyed by periodontitis. It can also be used to increase the jawbone in areas where it is naturally thinner and weaker.

Why Is Gum Health Important?

The importance of healthy gums is often overlooked, as most people focus on the appearance of their teeth. However, you can have beautifully white, strong-looking teeth, but without the protection of strong, healthy gums, you are at risk of losing teeth.

While gum disease is a common cause of tooth loss, it can also impact overall health. Studies are increasingly sharing the link between advanced gum disease and common conditions like diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and heart disease.

The link is thought to be due to the inflammation caused by the bacteria in dental plaque. Because gum disease causes your gums to bleed, these bacteria can enter your bloodstream, allowing them to travel freely around your body and create new sites of inflammation.

For example, if you have diabetes, poor gum health can make blood sugar levels more difficult to control. Poorly controlled diabetes can raise glucose levels in saliva, feeding the harmful bacteria that cause gum disease.

Preventing Gum Disease

Gum disease is avoidable with the right preventive dental care. At Dental Pearl, we work hard to help reduce the risk of gum disease in our patients, and aim to detect signs quickly through regular dental exams.

If we feel someone is more at risk of developing gum disease, we may recommend more frequent dental checkups and hygiene appointments. Hygiene appointments are particularly important because they remove plaque and tartar buildup, helping to eliminate or reduce the number of harmful bacteria that cause periodontitis.

People who may be more at risk include:

• Pregnant women.
• People with autoimmune conditions.
• People with diabetes.
• Seniors.
• Smokers.

Benefits of Periodontal Care

Reducing your risk of periodontal disease or managing this condition can provide numerous benefits, which include:

• Protecting natural teeth.
• Preventing further gum recession.
• Restoring the ability to eat comfortably.
• Improving dental health and protecting overall health.