Bacteria thrive in our mouths, and if we let them, they slowly take over, spreading into the gum tissue and beyond, attacking and destroying the very bones that support our teeth. That's periodontal disease.
According to the American Dental Association, three out of four adult Americans have some form of gum disease and about 25 million adults suffer from serious periodontal disease. Some of the telltale signs of periodontal disease are red, swollen or tender gums, chronic bad breath, bleeding gums, loose teeth, and gums that pull away from the teeth leaving periodontal pockets. When gum inflammation or infection has been left untreated for too long, they spread from the gums to underlying ligaments and bones that support the teeth, causing periodontal pockets to form. These pockets leave tooth roots even more vulnerable to attack. The teeth can loosen and even fall out. In fact, periodontitis is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
If you have been diagnosed with periodontal (gum) disease, Dr. Gapstur will determine if your disease origin is primarily bacterial, immune or a combination. If appropriate, he will approach your treatment conservatively with non-surgical therapy, antiseptic rinses and proper home care plague removal. Based on your healing response, Dr. Gapstur will determine whether your disease is controlled, progressing, or unresponsive. In turn, appropriate recommendations may include further non-surgical adjunctive procedures (e. g. antibiotic therapies, smoking cessation programs, bite adjustments, inflammation reduction, antimicrobial rinses etc.) or whether definitive pocket elimination surgical procedures may be required.
