What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in the gums, bone and supporting tooth structures. There are two forms of periodontal disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.
In gingivitis, the infection is only in the gums. It is usually seen 4-14 days after plaque accumulates under the gums, in an area called the sulcus.
There are two stages of gingivitis:
In periodontitis, the infection is in the gums, bone, cementum and supporting tissues called the periodontal ligaments. The cementum covers the tooth's root surface and helps protect the tooth from stimuli that cause sensitivity. It also allows the periodontal ligaments to "hook on" to the tooth, and helps hold the tooth in its socket. (see second picture at top of page)
Systemic factors such as diabetes, Leukemia, HIV/AIDS, Osteoporpsis, hormonal influences (puberty, pregnancy, menopause), and genetic influences do not cause periodontal disease but change how an individual's body responds to the bacteria and often leads to periodontal disease.
Local contributing factors also do not cause periodontal disease but increase a persons vulnerability to the disease. Dental calculus, poor dental restorations, tooth decay, tooth trauma and even tooth deformities can contribute to periodontal disease and even make the disease more severe. These factors either provide a rough surface for the bacteria to adhere to or if the tooth's natural shape is changed, bacteria is hard to remove with regular brushing and flossing.
Frequently asked questions that patients may have about periodontal disease
*Pictures from Google Images
In gingivitis, the infection is only in the gums. It is usually seen 4-14 days after plaque accumulates under the gums, in an area called the sulcus.
There are two stages of gingivitis:
- Acute gingivitis is gingivitis that lasts for only a short time.
- Tissues appear red and swollen
- Bleeding when probing
- Tissues are soft and spongy
- Tissues appear blueish red or pale white
- Bleeding when probing
- Tissues are hard and leathery
In periodontitis, the infection is in the gums, bone, cementum and supporting tissues called the periodontal ligaments. The cementum covers the tooth's root surface and helps protect the tooth from stimuli that cause sensitivity. It also allows the periodontal ligaments to "hook on" to the tooth, and helps hold the tooth in its socket. (see second picture at top of page)
- Tissues appear blueish red or pale white
- Bleeding or pus when probing
- Tissues are soft and shiny or hard and leathery
- Gums recede and cementum is seen
- Bone loss starts to occur
- Teeth may become "loose" or mobile
Systemic factors such as diabetes, Leukemia, HIV/AIDS, Osteoporpsis, hormonal influences (puberty, pregnancy, menopause), and genetic influences do not cause periodontal disease but change how an individual's body responds to the bacteria and often leads to periodontal disease.
Local contributing factors also do not cause periodontal disease but increase a persons vulnerability to the disease. Dental calculus, poor dental restorations, tooth decay, tooth trauma and even tooth deformities can contribute to periodontal disease and even make the disease more severe. These factors either provide a rough surface for the bacteria to adhere to or if the tooth's natural shape is changed, bacteria is hard to remove with regular brushing and flossing.
Frequently asked questions that patients may have about periodontal disease
- Is is periodontal disease reversible?
- Gingivitis is reversible but unfortunately periodontitis is not. It can be controlled and maintained but the bone loss can not be regenerated without surgical procedures.
- Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria and how a person's body responds to an infection. A person could have poor oral hygiene but if their body can fight the bacterial infection, they may never develop periodontal disease. On the other hand, other people may have minimal amounts of bacteria with great oral hygiene and still develop periodontal disease. It depends on the hosts response to the bacterial infection.
- An individual can start showing signs of gingivitis as early as 4-14 days. It can be reversed with proper brushing and flossing in as little as 3-5 days.
*Pictures from Google Images