Periodontal Disease and Tooth Loss

Did you know that the most common reason for adult tooth loss is not cavities but periodontal disease? Also known as trench mouth, periodontal disease is usually painless and slow to progress. Patients are often unaware that a problem even exists until after they start to experience pain in the form of an acute infection or abscess.

Periodontal disease is caused by chronic bacterial infections in the bone that supports the teeth. This is due to inadequate, incorrect, or more commonly, the lack of brushing and flossing. Even with regular brushing, infections can occur between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. Gum infections from improper cleaning can lead to red, puffy and sensitive gums. Much more serious, bone infections in the mouth lead to permanent loss of the supporting bone. Even if adequate daily dental hygiene is started once a problem is discovered, the further loss of bone can only be retarded; the bone already lost will never grow back. The resulting "holes" in the bone are very difficult to keep clean and soon collect plaque and food debris leading to further infections. These infections in turn cause more bone loss and larger "holes", ultimately causing teeth to become loose and lead to the development of painful abscesses.

The infections and resulting deterioration of the bone often progresses without any painful symptoms until quite late in the cycle. The only way to find out if you are suffering from periodontal disease is to have your teeth probed and regular x-rays taken of your entire mouth. Probing involves taking a slender measuring instrument and placing it between your gums and each tooth. The distance from the top of your gums to the height of your bone is then measured. An increase is the distance between tooth and gum indicates deterioration, possibly from infection. As a practice of this dental office, 6 such measurements are taken around each tooth. These measurements are then combined with the information derived from the x-rays to determine if you are possibly at risk for having periodontal disease.

The most effective treatment for this disease is prevention. The earlier periodontal disease is detected, the more effective and successful the treatment.