Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.
Source: American Dental Association (ADA) / MouthHealthy.org
Aggressive periodontitis is a highly destructive form of periodontal disease that occurs in patients who are otherwise healthy. Common features include rapid loss of tissue and bone and may occur in some areas of the mouth, or in the entire mouth.
Dr. Perrott’s Guide to Understanding Gum Disease
Every mouth has good and bad bacteria. When you have periodontal disease (also known as Gum Disease), it means you have millions harmful bacteria that have multiplied under your gumline and started an infection.
Three out of every four American adults develop some degree of periodontal disease.
Some people have a higher risk, and include: (1) Family history of periodontal disease, (2) Smokers, (3) Other diseases such as diabetes. Periodontal infections are the #1 Cause of adult tooth loss in the United States
Even with an active periodontal infection you may not have any visible signs at first, but if left untreated, here’s what could happen …
How do we diagnose Periodontal (Gum) Disease?
We assess periodontal disease by:
- Measuring the pockets that have formed between your teeth and gum tissue
- Reviewing your X-rays to look for bone loss
- Looking for bleeding and inflammation of your gum
Understanding what your numbers mean
How Periodontal Disease is Treated
Scaling and root planning (SRP)
- Scaling with a special hand instrument or ultrasonic instrument to scrape away bacterial deposits above and below the gumline.
- Root planning to smooth rough spots on tooth roots and promote healing.
Antibiotic Medication
- We will place the medication, ARESTIN to kill the bacterial causing infection.
- ARESTIN (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg starts working immediately and fights infection and inflammation for 30 days.
- Provides significantly better results than SRP alone for up to 90 days.
Good oral hygiene
- Follow any special instructions our dental office provides.
- Practice good oral hygiene by sticking to a daily BRUSH, FLOSS & RINSE routine, using an ADA-accepted antimicrobial rinse, such as LISTERINE Antiseptic.
- Schedule and keep appointments for regular check-ups.