Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Disease, also called gum disease, is a degenerative infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is caused by bacteria found in plaque. Gum disease is one of the main reasons for tooth loss in adults. Gum disease is often painless, so many patients are unaware they have it. There are two stages of Gum Disease; the early stages – Gingivitis, and the advanced disease – Periodontitis.

• Gingivitis is the early stages of gum disease, when bacteria inflame and infect gum tissues, causing painful red, swollen and bleeding gums. At this point, the disease is reversible and can be treated with a proper dental cleaning and improved care at home.
• When gingivitis is left untreated, the chronic inflammation will lead to more severe periodontal destruction, called Periodontitis. Periodontitis destructs the tissues surrounding the teeth and leads to bone loss, tooth loss and gum recession. Periodontitis will generally get worse over time, the rate of progression is unknown and varies patient to patient. There is no “cure” for Periodontitis, however there are treatments and maintenance that our team will recommend to help slow the progression of the disease.