Periodontal Therapy In Hillsboro, KS
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, affects approximately 30% of adults and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. This chronic condition often leads to the need for dentures. While it cannot be cured, it can be controlled through regular professional hygiene appointments and consistent home care.
Gum disease can progress without noticeable signs or symptoms. Many patients are unaware of the damage that periodontal disease can cause, as it often does not cause pain. Imagine your gums and the bone surrounding your teeth as the foundation of a house. Just like a house, the foundation must be strong for the rest of the structure to remain intact. When the foundation weakens, the rest of the house follows suit.
To effectively manage periodontitis, it is crucial to have regular dental exams, professional cleanings, and practice good home care habits.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Our mouths harbor millions of bacteria, both beneficial and harmful, which can have various effects on our oral health. One consequence of bacterial activity is the formation of plaque, a sticky substance that attaches to the teeth. Regular brushing and flossing are essential for removing plaque before it hardens into tartar. If tartar is allowed to accumulate, it becomes a breeding ground for more bacteria, which release toxins that can harm the gums.
When bacteria invade the gums, our immune system responds with inflammation. Each tooth is surrounded by a small pocket of gum tissue, which provides an ideal environment for tartar and bacteria to thrive. This warm and dark pocket allows them to infiltrate and cause further damage.
If left untreated, the initial inflammation can progress to gingivitis, characterized by bleeding gums. The bacteria, if undisturbed, can lead to a chronic infection in the periodontal pocket. Over time, the bone around the teeth may start to deteriorate. At this stage, there may be slight tenderness in the gums, but generally, there is minimal discomfort as the bone begins to erode.
It is important to note that more than 50% of the bone around the teeth can be lost before any signs of looseness or pain become noticeable. Unfortunately, the bone does not regenerate, so this loss is permanent and becomes increasingly difficult to control as the bacteria hide deeper within the gums. In advanced cases, untreated gum disease can result in abscesses and eventual tooth loss.
Diagnosis
Before making a gum disease diagnosis, we consider several factors. The depth of the gum pocket around each tooth is typically 2-3 millimeters, which can be easily cleaned with floss or toothpicks. Our hygiene team or Dr. Davidson can use a periodontal probe to measure and chart these areas. If the measurements are more than 3 millimeters and bleed when probed, it indicates the presence of periodontal disease.
In addition, Dr. Davidson will assess the texture and shape of your gums and check for any tooth movement. It is also important to examine the bone levels, shape, and density around your teeth using digital x-rays. By gathering this information, we can form a clear understanding of your gum condition.
Treatment
After diagnosing the severity of your gum disease, we will create a personalized treatment plan. For milder cases with minimal bone loss, our hygiene team can usually bring the condition under control in one or two visits. We will provide you with a strategy for daily home care and establish a professional maintenance schedule to minimize the need for additional treatment.
If the inflammation has progressed and there is noticeable bone loss, it is important to take a proactive approach to prevent further deterioration. We may recommend numbing your gums and performing root planing or scaling. This deep cleaning process will be done gradually over multiple visits, focusing on one area of your mouth at a time. Our skilled team will use hand and ultrasonic instruments to carefully remove the infected pockets around each tooth, as well as any mineralized tartar. The treatment will conclude with polishing the teeth to create smooth surfaces that resist stain and plaque buildup.
Dr. Davidson may also suggest additional measures to enhance your home care routine, such as a medicated rinse, an electric or ultrasonic toothbrush, and other specific strategies. It is important to remember that while gum disease can be controlled, it cannot be cured. Consistent and diligent home care is necessary to keep the disease under control.
Maintenance Matters
Regular home care is crucial in halting the advancement of gum disease. Within a few hours of cleaning, bacteria start to repopulate and adhere to the teeth. If left undisturbed, plaque will begin to harden and mineralize within 24 hours. It is important to note that deeper gum pockets require even more diligence to prevent bacteria from undermining the foundation of your teeth.
Given that gum pockets previously damaged by bacteria can be challenging to clean at home, it is essential to maintain a faithful schedule with us. We can tailor your plan to include two, three, or four visits a year, depending on the severity of the disease, its response to treatment, and the consistency of your home care.
If our combined efforts fail to slow or stop the progression of your gum disease, we may recommend a referral to a specialist, known as a periodontist.
Mouth-Body Connection
Studies have shown a strong connection between oral bacteria and a range of health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, arthritis, Alzheimer's, and certain types of cancer. The understanding of the relationship between oral health and overall well-being has never been more comprehensive.
When gums bleed, it provides a direct pathway for oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Just as an open wound on the skin can lead to infection, bleeding gum tissue should be treated with the same concern. This helps explain why researchers consistently find deposits of oral bacteria in various parts of the body.
Individuals with diabetes and other autoimmune disorders have a weakened ability to fight infections, which allows gum disease to progress more rapidly and cause greater damage. Research has also confirmed that inflammation in the mouth can worsen diabetes, making it more difficult to manage. This two-way relationship between these chronic conditions underscores the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene.