You may be questioning how long you can keep your teeth with periodontal disease. Well, you must acknowledge any symptoms of periodontal disease as early as you can. The longer you wait, the condition of your teeth will worsen, increasing the chances of them falling out.
Periodontal diseases are infections of the gums and bones that surround and support the teeth. Gingivitis is a stage that occurs early on and it comes with the following symptoms: gum redness and swelling, in some cases bleeding and constant bad breath. Periodontitis is a more advanced stage where the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and teeth have a greater chance of becoming loose and falling out.
It should be brought to your attention that periodontal disease is mostly found in adults. In regards to dental health, periodontal disease and tooth decay are two great threats. Periodontitis is a severe condition, but it can be treated. Brushing twice a day, flossing and attending regular dental check-ups will help prevent periodontal disease or even increase the chances of successful treatment.
Here at Droitwich Dental Studio, we have a welcoming team that is dedicated to helping you with any dental need including gum disease.
Advanced Gum Disease
As mentioned above, advanced gum disease is where gums become red, swollen or even sore. You may also experience bleeding when you’re brushing your teeth, flossing or eating hard foods. The tissues that hold the tooth in its socket also inflame.
Gum disease can lead to:
- Gums shrinking
- Teeth becoming loose and falling out
- Bad breath alongside a bad taste in your mouth
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is vital you book a dental appointment as soon as possible. This will allow you to gain a better understanding of what you may have and how to treat it. Visiting a dentist on a regular basis will ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy.
You should visit a dentist urgently if you are experiencing the following:
Patients who neglect proper care of their mouths by not regularly seeing a dentist have higher chances of getting tooth and gum disease, but they also risk getting diseases and illness in other areas of their body. Health conditions related to oral health such as, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer and strokes can also occur if not careful.
- Teeth becoming loose or falling out
- Very sore and swollen gums
- A lump in your mouth or on your lip
- Ulcers or red patches in your mouth
It is beneficial to attend regular dental visits. At Droitwich Dental Studio , we have dental hygienists who will give you advice or take action depending on your situation.
Our hygienists will clean your teeth professionally. They will do this by using equipment and pastes used to remove any stains and also polish your teeth. This process will be painless and our dental hygienists will ensure you feel comfortable throughout.
Once this procedure is over, our hygienists will advise you on how to maintain clean and healthy teeth.
A few examples of what our dentists may do to help with your treatment are:
- Give you advice on keeping your teeth clean.
- Advise you to get your teeth checked and cleaned by a hygienist.
- If you smoke, advise you to stop smoking
- Have a deep cleaning under the gums.
- Teeth removal or teeth shaping
- Gum surgery if – (an example of a surgery that dentists use is “Flap surgery”, also called pocket reduction surgery. This is where your periodontist will make cuts in your gums to fold back the tissue)
Will I Lose My Teeth If I Have Periodontal Disease?
There is a possibility that you will lose your teeth if you have periodontal disease. However, it all depends on how severe you have the disease and what stage you are at. Did you know that it is estimated that 1 in 7 adults ages 35 to 44 have experienced some stages of gum disease? Unfortunately, many people do not realise that they have it. Do not be in that statistic and get in touch with us ASAP!
There are five stages of periodontal disease that you should look out for are the following:
- Bleeding – Bleeding can occur when brushing or flossing teeth. This is a sign shown from early on and it is important that you visit your dentist as this could be a sign of gum disease.
- Gingivitis – This is the second stage of gum disease and this is where swelling and pain occur in the gums. Some may also notice consistent bad breath regardless of what they’ve consumed.
- Early Periodontitis – This is where more swelling occurs and the plaque hardens to tartar, which will lead to decay.
- Moderate Periodontitis – Gums are likely to recede and continue to be sore in this stage. Teeth will also decay and deteriorate quicker at this point, making them more loose and wiggly.The jaw will also become affected and infected. In worse cases, if you have symptoms in this stage, you may also experience a foul-tasting discharge from the swollen area in the gums.
- Advanced Periodontitis – This is the last stage of gum disease and it is pretty likely that you will lose teeth or teeth will at least loosen.
Antibiotics and thoroughly cleaning your mouth area on a daily basis will increase your chances of further developing periodontal disease. The disease will be harder to treat if left for a long duration of time.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
Prior to any treatment taking place, the dentist will need to find out how severe your case of periodontal disease is. The dentist will do this by carrying out a diagnosis.
Within this diagnosis the periodontist will:
The objective of the diagnosis is to keep an eye on risk for periodontal disease progression.
- Review your medical history – To identify any previous or current factors that could be linked with symptoms. For instance, taking certain medicines that cause dry mouth or smoking.
- Examine your mouth – To search for plaque and check for bleeding.
- Measure how deep the pockets are between your gums and teeth – Pockets deeper than 4mm can indicate periodontitis. A dental probe is placed between the teeth and the gumline.
- Take dental X-rays – To further assess areas for potential bone loss.
Once this procedure is complete, your dentist may assign a stage of periodontitis depending on how severe you have the disease, the complexity of treatment, your individual risk factors and your health conditions. Finally, the treatment plan is made.
A dentist or a periodontist will assess your treatment. The main aim is to first tackle the pockets around teeth through professional cleaning and to also prevent damage dealt to surrounding gum tissue and bone. Having good oral hygiene and managing conditions that may impact dental health, skyrockets your chances of successful treatment.
Treatment may involve less invasive procedures if periodontitis is not advanced, such as:
- Scaling – Using instruments, a laser or an ultrasonic device bacteria is removed from tooth surfaces below the gumline.
- Root planing – Aims to help gums attach to your teeth again, root planing smooths the root surfaces.
- Antibiotics – Help control bacterial growth and infection.
Dental surgery may be required if you have advanced periodontitis. Some treatment options include:
- Soft tissue grafts – Reinforcing damaged tissue. This is through removing a small amount of tissue from the roof of your mouth and placing it where in the affected area. This can help reduce further gum loss.
- Bone grafting – The bone around your tooth root is destroyed. Bone graft helps prevent tooth loss by holding teeth into place.
- Guided tissue regeneration – Your dentist will place a special type of fabric between existing bone and tooth. The material blocks unwanted tissue from growing back in the area. This allows the regrowth of bone that was destroyed by bacteria.
What to expect from your dentist:
- When did you first experience symptoms?
- Do symptoms come and go?
- How often do you brush your teeth?
- Do you floss?
- How often do you visit your dentist?
- Do you take any medications?
Here at Droitwich Dental Studio, we provide a variety of services including general and cosmetic dentistry covering many oral health needs. Feel free to get in touch with us if you require any assistance.
We also have multiple blogs available that you may find useful if you have any questions or queries regarding other dental topics.
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