Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a very common condition. It is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue surrounding the teeth and jaw bones, and can range from gingivitis to periodontitis. There are various treatment options available, depending on the severity of the infection. The milder and less evolved stage of periodontal disease, gingivitis, is the inflammation of the gum tissue (gingiva). Commonly it is the result of inadequate oral hygiene, where bacteria, formed in the accumulated plague on patient?s teeth, penetrates under the gum line causing irritation. Initially there is little or no discomfort (silent disease), but eventually gums become red, swollen and easily bleed during brushing. Gingivitis is reversible with professional hygiene treatment and proper maintenance.

Untreated gingivitis can rapidly advance to periodontitis, a more severe form of periodontal disease involving not only the soft tissue (gums) but the jaw bone and roots of the teeth. Chronic inflammation sets in, gradually separating the gum from the roots of the teeth, creating deep pockets, which trap food particles and harbor large amounts of bacteria. Hardy, ruff material, called tartar, is the by-product of bacterial activity on the service of a tooth below the gum line. Tartar and toxins released by bacteria irritate the tissue even further. Eventually such chronic inflammation triggers an immune response in which the body proceeds to rid itself from this infection. As a result of such combined process (bacterial activity and our natural immune response) the tissues and the bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. As disease progresses, the gum pockets deepen, bacteria become more aggressive, more soft tissue and bone are destroyed, causing rapid bone loss around your teeth. If left untreated periodontal disease inevitably leads to tooth loss. Unfortunately, Gum Disease is the #1 cause of adult tooth loss in the United States!

Inadequate oral hygiene and poor dental care are the leading contributing factors in the development of periodontal disease. We all have bacteria in our mouth, and this is absolutely normal. The problem starts when there is a shift in the natural balance and bacteria starts to invade healthy tissue (gingivitis). The process may not be readily visible, especially in between and around the back teeth, where brushing is difficult. Often in adults, if wisdom teeth had not been extracted, they become a source of infection as there are many crevices behind and around those teeth harboring colonies of bacteria.

Defective, broken fillings present another problem that may contribute to gum disease. If a filling is cracked, becomes worn-out or loose, bacteria in your mouth, penetrate a compromised barrier and cause decay of the tooth beneath the old filling. Besides destroying the tooth through further decay and creating deeper cavities, which may require a root canal therapy, bacteria ?spill over? and invade previously healthy gums.

Smoking delivers a number of toxins to the mouth tissues causing irritation and an immune response. Another direct effect of smoking is transient vasoconstriction (narrowing or closing of small blood vessels). As a result the blood supply to already compromised tissue of the gums becomes diminished, which makes the area even more vulnerable to bacterial invasion and development of subsequent periodontal disease (gum disease).

Irregular professional dental cleanings. Regardless of how thorough you are with tooth-brushing, flossing and rinsing, you are not able to reach certain areas between your teeth and between the gums and the teeth. Those spots can be cleaned only by a professional hygienist, using specialized dental instruments and technology. Regular hygiene visits are crucial to keeping infection at bay, and for prevention of periodontal disease. Besides probing and monitoring the depth of natural gum recesses around your teeth, hygienist removes bacterial plaque at the base of your teeth that can not be removed by regular brushing. Left unchecked, shallow recesses can turn into deep gum pockets separating the soft tissue away from your teeth, while at the same time bacteria transform plaque into hard tartar (dental calculus) deposited below the gum line. Those are the areas, which you can not reach even with the best home oral care.

Some medications, systemic diseases and genetic predisposition may contribute to the development of periodontal disease. The best prevention of Periodontal Disease is the proper oral health care, personal oral hygiene, regular flossing, use of a toothbrush, which is correct for your mouth and your teeth, frequent rinsing.

You must be vigilant and compliant with your periodic dental check-ups and in-office professional hygiene cleanings!!!

If you suspect development of any dental problem, do not try to self diagnose. With any noticeable changes in your mouth, changes in your bite, change in the texture, color or firmness of your gums, development of unpleasant and persistent mouth odor or taste, call Scottsdale Center for Dental Medicine at 480-948-4445. Do not put it off, because bacteria do not wait.

In cases where Gum Disease is present, it is important to diagnose the severity and the extent of infection, and to develop an appropriate plan to prevent the spread and progression of the disease.

Patients having mild to intermediate stage of the disease undergo Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning) procedure. The treatment is performed using Cavitron, a special dental equipment, where the build-up layer of dental calculus, bacteria and by-products are removed from the surface of the teeth below the gum line, from the exposed roots and from deep gum pockets adjacent to those teeth. Then the area is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. In addition we provide Arestin® therapy, by placing a special antibiotic in the deep pockets under the gum, to prevent re-infection and bacterial growth. Arestin therapy greatly reduces the chance of progression of the Gum Disease.