An Inside Look Into the Various Types of Periodontal Disease
Over the past few decades, gum disease has overtaken old age as the leading cause of missing teeth. Periodontal disease is quite common and affects nearly half of the adult population in America.
Periodontal disease can sneak up on you if you are not keen. It begins to attack the gums, which are the foundation of a healthy smile. Interestingly, people focus more on teeth and forget that gum health is equally as important. Being aware of your gum health can help you stay ahead of the disease and reverse its effects during the earrly stages.
Therefore, visiting our dentist in Fort Lee is necessary since checkups and cleanings can ensure that your gums and teeth are healthy.
Gum (Periodontal) Disease, In a Nutshell
Periodontal disease (gum disease or periodontitis) is a severe oral disease that affects the tooth’s supporting and surrounding tissue and underlying jawbone. The disease is progressive, and if left untreated, your teeth will become loose, unstable, and eventually fall off.
Don’t be cavalier about gum disease since it has far-reaching effects on your overall health. It is linked with other conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. That’s why seeking treatment for gum disease is of paramount importance.
There are various types of periodontal disease and may vary in severity, but they all need prompt treatment to stop the progression of the disease.
Types of Periodontal Disease
- Gingivitis
At the onset of the disease, you will experience gum inflammation. This is the mildest and most prevalent type of gum disease, known as gingivitis. The inflammation occurs as a result of plaque buildup on the gum line. Plaque is a sticky substance that is comprised of saliva, bacteria, and food debris.
At this stage, proper oral hygiene and visiting our dentist in Fort Lee would help remove the plaque, and your gums will be back to their former glory. You can also use antimicrobial mouthwashes and prescribed antibiotics to help kill the remaining bacteria, thus promoting healing of the gums.
People who are at risk of developing gingivitis are:
- Steroid users
- Pregnant women
- Women who are taking birth control pills
- People who use medication to control high blood pressure and seizures
If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to full-blown periodontal disease.
- Chronic Periodontal Disease
This disease is more prevalent in people above 45 years. It is also among the most common periodontal disease types that cause inflammation below the gum line and the progressive destruction of the bone and gingival tissue. When you have chronic periodontal disease, it would seem as though your teeth are growing in length because your gums are receding.
Sadly, chronic periodontal disease is not like gingivitis that can be cured entirely. Once the supportive tissue is damaged, it cannot be rebuilt. However, visiting our dentist can stop the progression of this type of periodontal disease.
Procedures such as scaling and planing used in concert with antibiotics can help keep the disease at bay.
- Aggressive Periodontal Disease
Aggressive periodontal disease is similar to chronic periodontal disease, but the significant difference is that the progression is much quicker. It is characterized by the quick loss of bone tissue and gum attachment. The people at risk of developing this disease are those with a family history of the disease and smokers.
Our dentist will use the same treatments that are used in chronic periodontal disease. However, when you have aggressive periodontal disease, surgery would be far more effective in halting the progression of the disease.
- Necrotizing Periodontal Disease
Necrotizing periodontitis causes the death of living tissue, including gingival tissue, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligaments. These tissues die because they don’t get the nourishment they need to survive.
The disease is most likely to develop in people who have HIV, chronic stress, malnutrition, and immunosuppression.
Our dentist will use antibiotics, root planing, scaling, and fungicidal medicines to treat this type of periodontal disease.
- Systemic Periodontitis
At times, periodontitis can be a symptom of another disease. In other words, it could develop because of a systemic disease such as respiratory disease, diabetes, or heart disease. You might not have much plaque buildup, but the systemic disease can intensify or accelerate the destruction of the gingival tissue.
The disease is controlled by treating the underlying condition, and then our dentist will use the same treatments that are used to manage chronic periodontal disease.
In any case, we are here for you; therefore, contact our dentist in Fort Lee at So Good Dental for periodontal treatment.