Your dentist will be able to detect signs of periodontitis at an early stage during a routine dental examination. They can monitor your periodontal status overtime to make sure it doesn't get any worse. This is why it's important that you visit a dentist on a regular basis for screening.
Periodontal disease is diagnosed by your dentist or dental hygienist during a periodontal examination. This type of exam should always be part of your regular dental check-up. A periodontal probe (small dental instrument) is gently used to measure the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and the gums.
Symptoms of periodontitis can include: Swollen or puffy gums. Bright red, dark red or dark purple gums. Gums that feel tender when touched.
Gum disease is often painless and without noticeable symptoms, making it hard to know if you really have it. Many symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease, called periodontitis.
Periodontal disease can be easily missed. It may be difficult to spot redness against the pink of the gums, or bone loss around the roots of the teeth because there is no pain or discomfort. The degeneration of the gums can also occur fast, quickly becoming a more serious issue.
Stage 1: Gingivitis
Gingivitis causes inflammation of the gums. Gums that should otherwise be pink will appear red and swollen; you could experience bleeding when you brush or floss. However, at this point, gingivitis can still be reversed. The bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place have not yet been affected.
Over time, untreated gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. So, how long does it take for gum disease to develop? One study found that if you're starting from level 1 gingivitis, it takes an average of 66.8 weeks, which is a little over 15 months, to develop into periodontitis.
It's never too late to seek treatment for gum disease, and the degree of treatment you require will depend on how advanced it is.
With gum disease, you won't keep your teeth for long. In fact, unlike tooth decay which impacts your smile one tooth at a time, periodontitis can cause you to lose multiple, if not all, teeth at once. Gum disease starts small as a mild form called gingivitis.
It's important to see a dentist right away if you ever suspect something is wrong with your gums. Both gingivitis and periodontitis can happen faster than you think. If you ever feel like your gums are tender, look red or swollen, or you're noticing pink on your floss or toothbrush, give us a call as soon as you can.
Bleeding gums
Healthy gums don't bleed, but periodontal disease can make them more sensitive. If you notice bleeding gums when you brush or floss or at your regular dental cleanings, it may be a sign of periodontal disease.
Common symptoms of periodontitis include soft and “spongy” gums, gum recession (making your teeth look longer), gums that feel very tender when touched, and sensitivity when chewing. If you notice these symptoms, you need to get treatment immediately.
And though periodontitis is common, it is preventable with the right oral hygiene and regular dental checkups. However, if you do develop periodontitis, it is treatable, and periodontal treatments can leave you with healthy gums, which means healthy teeth.
It is a therapy that is sometimes only needed once in a lifetime or every few years depending on your initial level of infection and various risk factors. The periodontal maintenance cleaning is part of the soft tissue management program prescribed 3-4 times a year after scaling & root planing is completed.
Typically, you will need to get periodontal cleanings every 3 months for the rest of your life to keep your gum disease under control, and as long as you get routine cleanings and maintain good oral hygiene, your condition won't get worse. However, you will never be fully healed.
Advanced gum disease, which is also referred to as periodontitis, cannot be completely cured. Therefore, it's highly important for patients to protect themselves against developing periodontitis in Omaha, NE. This can be done by practicing good oral hygiene techniques.
Periodontal disease is not a life-threatening condition. However, it might require you to seek treatments from various medical professionals when the bacteria from the infection spread to your bloodstream to affect your overall health.
The prevalence of periodontal (gum) disease continues to be an important public health problem in the United States as 2 in 5 adults are affected by some form of this disease.
Incidents of periodontal disease (gum disease) do increase with age, but gum disease can start at any time. Most people do not begin to show signs, however, until they are in their 30s or 40s.
Periodontitis is an especially formidable disease that you'll want to avoid at ass costs. Periodontitis leads to the degradation of your jawbone, meaning that it will lose mass over time. The infectious bacteria rupture the connection between your teeth and bone, eventually creating a gap that will loosen your tooth.
However, if you have gum disease, your gums can recede quite quickly. In some cases, they may even recede within a matter of weeks or months. Of course, the rate at which your gums recede also depends on your age.
You may start by seeing your general dentist. Depending on how severe your periodontitis is, your dentist may refer you to a specialist in the treatment of periodontal disease called a periodontist.
In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out.
Slight Periodontal Disease: Slight periodontal disease is the second stage of gum disease. It isn't reversible, but can be managed. Once you reach stage two, the infection has spread to the bone and has begun to destroy bones. The bacteria have become more aggressive, which is what leads to bone less.