So You’ve Been Diagnosed With Periodontal Disease
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease. The inflammation in your gums is one of the body’s natural defence mechanisms in response to a build-up of plaque (now referred to as a biofilm) bacteria on the teeth. In some patients, this natural inflammatory process is too severe or poorly controlled and it can damage the supporting structures of the teeth, namely gum, ligament and bone.
Who gets periodontal disease?
Approximately 15% of the population are severely affected by periodontal disease but milder forms of disease can affect around 80% of people by the age of 60.
There appears to be some genetic link with periodontal disease, with trends running in families. If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, then potentially your siblings are at increased risk of having the problem and potentially your children may be at increased risk. Ideally they should all be screened and monitored for potential problems by their general dentist. Other risk factors for gum disease include smoking (see below), poor diet, stress and diabetes.
What sort of treatment will I need?
Most periodontal disease can be treated effectively with thorough removal of the biofilm and deposits of calculus (calcified biofilm) that stick to the teeth. This treatment is carried out by the hygienist who is specially trained in these techniques.
However this treatment is only successful if an optimal level of oral hygiene is achieved at home so emphasis will be placed on this aspect of your treatment, especially in the early stages. Occasionally, in more severe cases, further treatment may be required in the form of drug therapy or surgery and you would probably be referred to a Specialist in Periodontics if this were the case.
What if I don’t have treatment?
If the bone loss around the teeth is not controlled then teeth may become loose, the gums may shrink and is some cases teeth may become infected or even fall out. There is also compelling evidence that untreated periodontal disease can have effects on general health.