What diseases are associated with periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease, in fact, is linked to a lot of systemic diseases. For example, heart disease, diabetes, and even high blood pressure. It does play a systemic role because everything, and I mean everything, starts from the mouth. Some of that bacteria, once it gets into the bloodstream, can damage or harm other systems in the body.
What is the progression of periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease, etiology-wise, starts from gingivitis. Many of us do have gingivitis, and we just don't know that. Signs of that can be bleeding gums from not flossing regularly. When your gums are bleeding, it's a sign of inflammation. Chronic inflammation and tartar buildup harbor bacteria, which eventually causes bone loss surrounding and supporting teeth. Those are signs of periodontal disease, and it progresses pretty fast if we don't get it treated. Over time, with bone loss, your teeth can become mobile and wiggly. If that goes untreated, then most patients do end up with dentures.
Can periodontal disease affect heart health?
100%. Yes.
What steps will a dentist take to treat periodontal disease?
First thing, very important, is the exam that will enable us to classify and diagnose periodontal disease, its stage, and its grade. From there on, we can determine what kind of treatment you need. If it's too severe, then most likely we'll have to see a specialist to get that taken care of.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (757) 231-3728 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.