What is periodontitis or “gum” disease?
Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissues and destroys the bone around your teeth. This infection can result in progressive bone loss over time which can lead to tooth loss. Signs of periodontitis include bleeding and swollen gums, loose teeth, shifting teeth, gum recession, painful chewing or bad breath. Numerous factors have been identified as risk factors for gum disease including a family history, smoking and certain medical conditions such as diabetes. According to recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of Americans aged 30 or older have periodontitis, the more advanced form of gum disease. Periodontitis has been linked to several systemic health conditions including diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
What are periodontal treatment options?
There are numerous non-surgical and surgical therapies available to treat gum disease today. Treatment in general has two goals including removal of the disease-causing bacteria and reduction of pocketing around the teeth which harbors the harmful bacteria. At Burke Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we offer the full scope of periodontal treatment options including minimally invasive laser periodontal therapy.
CLICK HERE to learn more about laser periodontal therapy.