Gum Disease

Gum disease, or periodontitis, is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes loss of bone support around our teeth. It is often painless, although symptoms may include gums that are tender or bleed easily, a persistent bad odor/taste and teeth that are shifting or loosening. Left unchecked, it can eventually cause pain and disfiguring tooth loss and has been associated with several other chronic diseases.

We perform a gum evaluation with every dental cleaning to identify gum disease in it’s earliest stages. If signs are present, conservative treatment designed to manage and help slow progression of gum disease are recommended. This treatment can be performed comfortably and can minimize future needs for more extensive and costly treatment.

As periodontitis is a chronic disease and similar to other chronic disease such as high blood pressure or diabetes, controlling it is a partnership between the patient and the dental team. Effective daily home care and regular professional maintenance cleanings are required to minimize disease progression. Being a smoker or having diabetes increases the risk that someone may develop gum disease.