Conservative estimates indicate that over 80% of all Americans have some form of gum disease.  However, only 3% ever seek out dental treatment.  This is very serious, as many complications can result from gum disease when it is left untreated.  Some of these are very severe conditions, and a few are genuinely life threatening.

         Gum disease can cause periodontal bacteria to get into the blood and infect major organs.  The most dangerous aspect of this type of infection is an increased risk of coronary disease, stroke, and infective endocartitis.

         Gum disease can also contribute to lung problems like respiratory infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema.  This is not just because of bacteria getting into the blood.  Breathing through the mouth can put them directly into the lungs.

         Pregnant women are more likely to have a pre-term, low birth weight baby if they suffer from even a mild case of gum disease.  This is because prostaglandins (hormones that trigger labor) increase prematurely as the body reacts to Periodontis, and the fetus may interpret this as a signal to go into labor.

The sooner a person with Periodontitis gets treatment, the better off that person will be.  This is because gum disease develops in progressive stages.  Each stage is increasingly severe and requires more aggressive procedures to treat.

Gingivitis

This is the first stage of gum disease, and its least severe variety.  Gingivitis is characterized by inflamed gums, red coloration, and bleeding.  The good news is that gingivitis is completely reversible, and poses no risk of bone loss if it is reversed before progressing into Periodontitis

Mild Periodontitis

Periodontitis sets in as supporting tissues begin to detach from the teeth.  This can cause gum recession and deep pockets.  Slight gum disease of this order is characterized by probing depths of 3-4mm and is common in most adults.

Moderate Periodontitis

As gum disease progresses to this stage, bone loss can range anywhere from 4-6mm.  Loose teeth, bad breath, and sore gums are often symptoms of this stage.  At this point, gum disease is irreversible with hygiene alone, although it can still be managed. 

Advanced Periodontitis

This stage of gum disease is quiet difficult to treat because pockets can be 6mm or more deep in some places.  Surgery or LANAP are the only choices at this point.

Refractory Periodontitis

At this point, gum disease has become that bone loss and impending tooth loss set in.  Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry and advanced technology enable us to treat even this stage of Periodontitis.  Teeth can be splinted to give them more stability.  Selective teeth can be extracted if need be and replaced with bridges.  The best option, however, is a combination of LANAP (also known as Laser Periodontal Therapy) and cosmetic dental implants.

This stage can usually result in tooth loss because the amount of bone loss is so major. We will usually address this condition in several ways, including laser periodontal therapy, splinting teeth together for more stability, and possibly some extractions. Fortunately, lost teeth can usually be replaced with bridges, dentures, or better yet - implant dentistry.

While surgery has long been the preferred method of treating Advanced and Refractory Periodontis, the new LANAP procedure has proven to be effective in even the most severe cases of gum disease.  The advantages it offers over typical surgery are many.  It is less invasive, poses minimal risk of post-procedural infection, can be performed more quickly, and better preserves healthy tissue due to the more precision cutting made by the laser light. 

Gum disease is nothing to dismiss or ignore.  If your gums are bleeding, unusually red, swollen, or sore, call us immediately and schedule an appointment.  The sooner you act, the sooner you will be smiling a healthy, confident smile again.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont Midland and Houston, Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth OSullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services. 

For any other questions related to cosmetic dentistry, you can Contact Us at 713.795.5905, visit our Dental Blog or Ask the Dentist