Periodontal Disease

Every year a vast number of people make it a point to visit their Cincinnati dentist’s office to have their teeth evaluated and cleaned. The purpose of these check-ups is to maintain the overall health of the gums and teeth and to prevent more serious diseases. Cincinnati dentists and dental hygienists also look for signs of gingivitis, a common bacterial infection that inflames the soft tissues (gums) inside the mouth. Gingivitis can lead to "periodontal disease", usually the primary mitigating factor for bone and tooth loss.

Teeth are more than just bone. They contain nerve endings, bone marrow and blood vessels. The gums surrounding the teeth and the bones supporting the teeth from beneath can also be affected by poor oral hygiene.

The roots of a tooth become vulnerable to bacterial infection and degeneration when the supporting bone and gum tissues are compromised.

While poor dental hygiene is the most common contributing factor to periodontal disease, the gums can also be affected by medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney disorders, the side effects of some medications, teeth grinding and jaw clenching that puts strain on the structures within the mouth, and certain hormonal or chemical changes in the body.

To address gum disease, a patient must first understand any underlying causes, and make changes where necessary. For those who grind or clench their teeth, there is an assortment of protective guards and mouthpieces available which can cut down on effect of this habit.

Regardless, a course of therapy should be started right away to rectify the damage already sustained and prevent any further damage. A regular dental hygiene regimen is likely to be prescribed for daily plaque removal, involving brushing and flossing, as well as antibiotic rinses.

Next, the dentist will focus on removing tartar build-up from along the gum-line. Procedures like deep scaling or root planing are normally used for this, especially if the bone has begun to recede.

If bone has already been compromised there are a variety of procedures that may be performed, from tissue regeneration and grafts to laser therapies intended to diminish the size of pockets between the tooth and gum tissue.

Tooth loss resulting from periodontal bone loss may further affect the integrity of the jaw bone and invite additional dental and medical problems.

Any work or effort by a patient and his/her Cincinnati-area dentist at treating and maintaining natural teeth will be repaid in better overall health and wellness.