Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal (Gum) disease is an inflammatory disease of the gums. It is caused by bacteria at and below the gum line. The severity of the disease depends on how an individual's immune system responds to the bacteria. The bacteria lives in a sticky substance called plaque that adheres to the teeth and spreads under the gum.
Over time the disease causes the gum and the bone around teeth to breakdown. This results in:
i) Deeper spaces (pockets) in the gum between your teeth and gums, which in turn allows more bacteria to collect.
ii) Bone loss, resulting in less bone anchoring your teeth.
If left untreated this can eventually lead to teeth becoming loose, being at an increased risk of infection and even needing to be removed or falling out.
Who gets Periodontal Disease?
15% of the population are highly susceptible to developing destructive gum disease, whilst another 15% are highly resistant. The remaining 70% of the population have the potential to develop destructive gum disease. By the age of 40 around 70% of the population has some stage of the disease. We do know that there are certain risk factors that increase a persons chance of developing gum disease. They are:
i) Family history of gum disease
ii) Smoking
iii) Stress
iv) Certain medical conditions like diabetes.
v) Poor oral hygiene
How do I know if I have a gum problem?
The signs and symptoms of periodontal disease are variable but include gums that bleed on brushing that may also look red or swollen. Gums may appear to “shrink”, causing the teeth to look longer. Oral malodour or bad breath is often associated with gum disease. In advanced disease teeth may become loose or drift out of position. It is important to remember that some of the early warning signs may be suppressed in smokers, allowing the disease to progress to an advanced stage without the person being aware that there is a problem.
How is Gum Disease detected?
At the Dental Academy all patients are screened at every check-up appointment. A simple test that involves gently probing around the gum margin with a blunt probe allows the dentists to screen for the early signs of gum disease. If we detect any early signs of disease then we will investigate further with X-rays and detailed gum measurements.
Is it treatable?
In most cases we can control the destructive process, preventing or minimising any further damage. Treatment involves professional, meticulous cleaning by our dedicated hygienists, Yvonne Derbyshire and Joanne Dickenson, together with a thorough cleaning regime by the patient at home. This combined approach removes the plaque and bacteria that the immune system reacts to, thus reducing and eliminating the inflammation. In some cases there is the need for advanced treatment and we are happy to discuss the options with patients on an individual basis
What should I do if I think I have a gum problem?
All patients should be regularly screened for the early signs of periodontal disease but if you feel that you have a specific gum problem or you have any of the risk factors listed above, please highlight your concerns or mention the risk factors to your dentist or hygienist.
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