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Dental Professionals Identify Gum Disease In Three Stages
Gingivitis
This is the first stage of gum disease. Some indications that you may have gingivitis
may involve tenderness and some bleeding of your gums when you brush or floss. Gingivitis
is reversible when corrective measures are taken. Some of these measures include
routine professional cleanings and proper brushing and flossing on a daily basis
as untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis.
Normal Tooth
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Gingivitis
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Periodontitis
This is considered the second stage of periodontal disease. In this stage, plaque
and tartar forms under the gums which cannot be removed with simple brushing. Plaque
and tartar causes infection which may damage the bone and the attachment of the
gums to the teeth, and your gums start to pull away from the teeth. Dental care
may include gum and root therapy or deep cleanings to remove the plaque and tartar
depending on the involvement of the disease. The first step of treatment involves
a special deep cleaning of tissue and roots (“Scaling and Root Planing”).
This procedure helps gum tissue heal and periodontal pockets to shrink. A local
anesthetic is often used to make you more comfortable and is usually completed in
one or two appointments. Sometimes antibiotics may be used to aid in healing of
the gum tissue. After a month, a follow up evaluation will determine if further
treatment is needed.
Beginning Periodontitis
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Moderate Periodontitis
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Advanced Periodontitis
This is the third stage of gum disease when the bone and the attachment of the gums
to the teeth have been destroyed. This may cause your teeth to shift or loosen and
can affect how your teeth come together. You may notice a bad taste or smell in
your mouth. Proper dental care must be initiated to save the teeth or they may need
to be removed. Professional intervention may include various forms of treatment
if the gingival tissues have not healed after initial deep cleanings or tissue and
root therapy. This is usually necessary when gingival tissues have not healed sufficiently
or when the supporting bone around the teeth has been lost. Since the tissue has
not properly attached, they provide a greater place for bacteria to live and attack
the bone and tissue, causing further damage to occur.
Advanced Periodontitis
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