Periodontal Disease Specialist

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease refers to gum tissue damage and bone loss in your mouth. There are two main stages of periodontal disease, including:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the earlier stage of periodontal disease. It affects three-quarters of Americans today. Common symptoms include bad breath, gum reddening, gum swelling, and tender-feeling gums. Your gums may also bleed easily when you're flossing your teeth.

With gingivitis, damage occurs only within the gums. Without treatment, gingivitis progresses to affect your bone as well.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis refers to severe gum disease, which leads to erosion of your gums and underlying bone tissue. Common periodontitis symptoms include very red or purplish gums, frequent gum bleeding, constant bad breath, pain when chewing, gum recession, and loose teeth. 

Ultimately, both types of periodontal disease are quite serious because one leads to the other if untreated.

How is periodontal disease diagnosed?

A visual exam can identify some of the clinical signs of periodontal disease, such as gum recession and tartar buildup, but you also need pocket depth measurements in your mouth. This refers to the space between your teeth and gums. Optimal pocket depth is less than 3 millimeters; greater depths are a sign of periodontitis. 

You'll also need digital X-rays to check for bone loss, focusing on the areas where you have deeper pockets, as part of your periodontal disease diagnosis.

How is periodontal disease treated?

Treatment can depend on the level of damage within your mouth. In cases of mild gingivitis, you may just need a teeth cleaning and improved oral hygiene habits. 

If you have plaque and tartar, both above and below your gumline, you likely need a special cleaning, called scaling and root planing.

For advanced periodontal disease, the LANAP® procedure can be a highly effective treatment. The LANAP procedure uses a state-of-the-art laser to remove diseased gum and bone. This procedure meticulously cleans your mouth and creates the ideal environment for gums to reattach. LANAP is scientifically proven to induce gum tissue regrowth. 

In the most advanced cases of periodontal disease, you may already have significant bone and tooth loss. Restorative dental procedures, including bone grafting and dental implants, can give you well-functioning teeth again. 

Gulf Coast Periodontics & Implants provides the most advanced solutions for periodontal disease. Contact us for more information!