SERVICES :: GUM DISEASE

Do you gums bleed whon you brush or floss? Are they red or swollen? Have your teeth become loose or do you have gaps you didn't use to have? If so, you may have gum disease. Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, however, you may not know you have it. Gum disease is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth. These bacteria create toxins that can damage the gums.

In the early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, the gums can become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing.

In the more advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, the gums and bone that support the teeth can become seriously damaged. The teeth can become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.

At Oak Ridge Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we check every patient for gum disease. We take full mouth xrays so we can see if any bone loss has occurred as doing a periodontal probing on every tooth. A probing is a measurement of the distance from the gum to the bone. In a healthy mouth, the distance is 1-3 mm. In a mouth with gum disease, probings of 4 mm or greater indicate a need for treatment.

If gum disease is diagnosed, the first step is a procedure called scaling and root planing where the toxins are removed from under the gums. This is done while the patient is numbed with a local anesthetic. After a healing period, the probings are recorded again. A determination is made at that time of whether surgical treatment with a periodontist (gum disease specialist) is needed.

Healthy Gums	Gingivities
Periodontitis	Advanced Periodontitis