Gum Disease

GUM DISEASE - Ginigivitis and Periodontitis

Keeping your Own Teeth - What you need to know

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums. If you have been told you have periodontal (gum) disease, you’re not alone. An estimated 80% of American adults currently have some form of the disease whose symptoms include:

• Bad breath that won’t go away

• Red or swollen gums

• Tender or bleeding gums

• Painful chewing

• Loose teeth

• Sensitive teeth

TYPES OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

• Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis.

• Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums.Gingivitis may lead to more serious, destructive forms of periodontal disease called periodontitis.

GUM Disease can kill more than your smile

• Heart Disease - Bacteria from the mouth can get into the bloodstream when the gums are infected and inflamed. Clumps of bacteria can lodge inside the walls of blood vessels and heart leading to cardiovascular disease. Getting your gums healthy can reduce your risk of a heart attack.

• Stroke - Scientific studies show that people with long-standing gum disease are more likely to have strokes (brain heart attack).

• Diabetes - Gum inflammation can make it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar. Treating gum disease successfully can directly improve diabetic glycemic control.

• Lung Disease - Keeping the bacteria involved in gum disease low in your mouth can reduce your risk of developing chronic lung problems.

• Pre-Term Birth - Women with gum disease are 7-8 times more likely to give birth prematurely to low birth weight babies.

HOW IS GUM DISEASE TREATED?

The primary treatment is to scale and root plane the diseased tooth roots in the tissue gum pockets. This procedure is sometimes called 'Deep Cleaning'. In moderate and advanced gum disease it is often necessary to perform periodontal surgery. This procedure can remove infected tissue and rebuild lost bone to create a healthy gum architecture. Once gum disease is treated it is necessary to get your teeth cleaned more often than people without gum disease. This is usually involves a dental cleaning every 3 or 4 months.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF PERIODONTAL SERVICES?

Most gum disease treaments enjoy around 80% coverage by most dental insurance companies. Typical copays range from $200 to $350. To determine the exact coverage and co-pay amounts we can send in a pretreatment estimate to your insurance company.

Contact us today for a consultation and we’ll discuss your options regarding periodontal gum disease. We look forward to answering all your questions about periodontal gum disease.

Insurances We Accept:

• Delta Dental

• Blue Cross

• Blue Shield