Conditions
Periodontal Disease in Jenkintown, PA
It affects the foundation your teeth are built on.
Periodontal disease is gum disease that has reached the attachment between your teeth, your gum and your bone. Receding gums, receding bone and loose teeth are all signs of it. It can be arrested — but it needs treating, and then maintaining.
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Periodontal disease, explained plainly
The tissues holding a tooth in — gum, ligament and bone — are together called the periodontium. Periodontal disease is disease of that attachment. The cause is bacteria that have sat in the mouth long enough to do damage.
If you have not seen a dentist for more than a year, there is a reasonable chance you have some form of it. Gingivitis is the beginning, and it can progress to severe periodontal disease from there.
Why it matters beyond the mouth
Connections to general health
Periodontal disease has been connected to a number of conditions elsewhere in the body. The bacteria found in gum disease have been detected in plaques in the heart and arteries.
- DiabetesA well-documented two-way relationship with gum health.
- Heart and arterial diseaseGum-disease bacteria have been found in arterial plaques.
- StrokeAmong the conditions associated with periodontal disease.
- Alzheimer’s diseaseAnother association reported in the research.
- Low birth weightIn babies born to pregnant patients with untreated gum disease.
There are many connections, and probably more that are not yet understood. It is a good reason to treat the mouth as part of general health rather than separately.
Treatment
Deep cleaning, then maintenance
At the moderate to severe stage, which we can help determine, the treatment is deep cleaning — technically scaling and root planing.
- Assessment and pocket measurementDeep pockets around the teeth are a marker of periodontal disease, so they are measured.
- NumbingYou are thoroughly numbed before anything else happens.
- Scaling and root planingThe hygienist works beneath the gum to remove tartar and bacteria that brushing and flossing cannot reach.
- Arestin where indicatedAn antibiotic placed directly into a deep gum pocket.
- Periodontal maintenanceVisits every three to four months so tartar does not rebuild under the gum.
Our hygienists are gentle and respectful of your comfort. Treatment of this kind does not have to be painful, and we aim to be thorough without causing discomfort.
Being straight with you
What treatment can and cannot do
Once the disease has progressed it may not be fully curable, because lost bone does not regenerate. What we can do is stop it and improve it.
- It can be arrestedWith treatment and diligent attendance, progression can be stopped.
- Lost bone does not returnWhich is why catching it earlier matters so much.
- Maintenance is not optionalEvery three to four months after deep cleaning, to hold the result.
Before restorative work
Periodontal disease is the foundation your teeth sit on — like building a house on quicksand, the foundation has to be addressed before restorative treatment such as crowns. You can have a crown placed with periodontal disease present, but there is no guarantee it will last if the tooth loses its support.
- Crowns and bridges are planned after the periodontal condition is stable.
- Implants require healthy supporting tissue and bone.
- Your immune system is already working hard against the infection.
- Untreated, the disease worsens, because the source is still there.
Two generations of dentists, one shared commitment to helping Jenkintown families eat, speak and smile with confidence.
MVP Family Dental · Jenkintown, PA
The short answer
Periodontal disease is gum disease that has reached the attachment between the teeth, the gum and the bone, which together are called the periodontium. Receding gums, receding bone and loose teeth are all signs of it, and the cause is bacteria that have sat in the mouth long enough to do damage. At the moderate to severe stage the treatment is deep cleaning, technically scaling and root planing, followed by periodontal maintenance visits every three to four months so that tartar does not rebuild under the gum.
Periodontal Disease Questions
- What is periodontal disease?
- Periodontal disease is gum disease that affects the attachment of your teeth to your gum and your bone, which together are called the periodontium. Receding gums, receding bone or loose teeth are all signs of it. Gingivitis is the beginning, and it can progress to severe periodontal disease from there. If you have not seen a dentist for more than a year, there is a reasonable chance you have some form of it.
- What causes it?
- Bacteria, usually bacteria that have been in the mouth for a long period and have not been removed professionally. They sit there long enough to damage the attachment between the tooth, the gum and the bone. If you have not seen a dentist for more than a year, there is a reasonable chance you have some form of gum disease. The source remains until it is removed, which is why untreated disease worsens.
- What are the warning signs?
- Bad breath, bleeding gums and pain in the gums are the main ones. Receding gums and teeth that feel loose point to the disease having reached the attachment. If you think something is developing, you should be seen as soon as possible rather than waiting for a routine visit.
- Can it be cured?
- Once it has progressed it may not be fully curable, because lost bone does not regenerate. It can be stopped or arrested if you are diligent about attending, and it can definitely be improved. That is why catching it earlier matters so much, and why maintenance every three to four months after deep cleaning is not optional.
- What treatments are available?
- Deep cleaning, technically called scaling and root planing. The pockets around the teeth are measured first, since deep pockets are a marker of the disease, then you are numbed thoroughly and the hygienist works beneath the gum to remove long-standing tartar and bacteria. Arestin, an antibiotic, can also be placed directly into a deep gum pocket where it is indicated. Periodontal maintenance visits follow, every three to four months.
- Is deep cleaning painful?
- It does not have to be. You are thoroughly numbed before anything else happens. Our hygienists are gentle and respectful of your comfort during the appointment, and aim to be thorough without causing discomfort. Tell us if anything is uncomfortable so the approach can be adjusted.
- What other conditions is it connected to?
- Diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and heart and arterial disease are among them, and the bacteria found in gum disease have been detected in plaques in the heart and arteries. There is also an association with low birth weight in babies born to pregnant patients with untreated gum disease. There are many connections, and probably more that are not yet understood. It is a good reason to treat the mouth as part of general health rather than separately.
- Can I have crowns if I have periodontal disease?
- You can, but there is no guarantee they will last long-term if the tooth loses its support. Periodontal disease affects the foundation your teeth sit on, so the foundation is addressed before restorative treatment. Crowns and bridges are therefore planned after the periodontal condition is stable, and implants require healthy supporting tissue and bone.
Dr. Vineetha Thomas, D.M.D.
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Dr. Priya Mathew, D.M.D.
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