What is Gum Disease?
Gum Disease is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and jawbone. The first stage of unhealthy gums is gingivitis. Gingivitis is a condition where excessive plaque forms on your teeth and around the gum line and as a result your gums become swollen, red and tender. This condition is reversible but if not treated, can also lead to a more serious irreversible gum disease condition called periodontitis.
Gum Disease is diagnosed by examining your gums and X-rays, which can show the bone loss caused due to gum disease. Once gum disease develops, it never disappears but becomes a latent condition that will need continual monitoring throughout your life. Good oral hygiene is absolutely essential once diagnosed, to avoid the early loss of teeth and systemic complications. Gum disease has been linked with coronary heart disease. Diabetics also commonly suffer from gum disease and people who grind their teeth are at a higher risk of developing it.
What causes Gum Disease?
Normally caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque to form around the teeth.
Is it common to have gum disease?
Gum disease is prevalent; 30-50% of the population suffers from it at some point in their lives.
What happens is Gum Disease is left untreated?
It can impact your general health and well-being, as well as lead to tooth loss.
Reversible Gum Disease Treatment
If we determine that your gums have Gingivitis, we will:
1. Organize professional cleaning.
2. Give oral hygiene instructions to provide you with a personalized cleaning plan (we will find the right cleaning tools for your mouth).
3. Revaluate your gums in the near future to confirm the improvement of its health.
Non reversible Gum Disease Treatment
If non reversible Gum Disease has been diagnosed, then we will need to book you for a deeper clean of the pockets around your teeth, to prevent damage to surrounding bone. More often than not this appointment is completed without local anesthesia, when done under Happy Gas to sedate you. Revaluation happens at a 6 week interval after your cleaning appointment, to determine your regular maintenance schedule, where we monitor your improvements and provide you with your personalized cleaning plan.