Periodontal Disease in Skokie, IL

Dr. Mansi Raina

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, affects the tissues that support your teeth. I'm going to take it back a little bit to talk about what exactly supports a tooth in our mouth. If you imagine that this is my tooth and this is the gum that you see, the supporting structures include the bone and the gum tissue around the tooth.

When periodontal disease progresses, inflammation and infection can damage the tissues and bone supporting the teeth. You may notice symptoms such as bleeding or irritated gums, and in more advanced cases, teeth can become loose. If the disease continues to progress, it can eventually put the affected teeth at risk of being lost.

What are some common causes and risk factors for periodontal disease?

First and foremost, one of the most important things is home care. Brushing twice daily and cleaning between your teeth regularly are important because periodontal disease is associated with bacterial plaque that builds up around and below the gumline.

There are other factors that can affect your risk as well. Genetics, smoking, certain medical conditions, medications, and other individual health factors can influence periodontal health. The way the teeth come together can also affect the supporting structures in certain situations, although it isn't considered a primary cause of periodontal disease.

What are some common symptoms of periodontal disease?

You may notice that when you're brushing and flossing, your gums are constantly bleeding or they're feeling a little bit raw or tender. You may also notice gum recession, persistent bad breath, or changes in how your teeth feel.

In more advanced cases, teeth can become loose. It's really important, if something is starting to stand out to you in your day-to-day habits, that you bring it up to us so that we can figure out what exactly is going on.

What are the implications of periodontal disease?

One of the most important implications of periodontal disease is the effect it can have on the tissues and bone that support your teeth. As the disease progresses, those supporting structures can be damaged, which can eventually affect the stability of the teeth.

We also know that oral health and overall health are connected. Research has found associations between periodontal disease and certain systemic conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These relationships are complex, and an association doesn't necessarily mean that periodontal disease directly causes those conditions.

What we do know is that maintaining healthy teeth and gums is an important part of taking care of your overall health.

What do we do if you have periodontal disease?

If you think you have periodontal disease or you've been told that you have it, there are things that we can do to help manage the condition. First and foremost, when you come in, we'll do a thorough assessment to determine whether periodontal disease is present and how advanced it is.

From there, we figure out how to treat it. Depending on your condition, we may need to clean underneath the gums and along the root surfaces where plaque and tartar have accumulated. The goal is to reduce the bacterial deposits and inflammation and help control the progression of the disease.

There are different treatment options depending on how advanced the condition is. The earlier we identify and address periodontal problems, the more options we may have for managing them.

Why is it important to catch periodontal disease early?

One really essential thing to note about periodontal disease is that it's progressive and often develops over time. It can also be relatively silent, particularly in its earlier stages, so you may not experience significant pain even when a problem is developing.

This is where regular dental visits really come into play because we want to detect changes early. If inflammation is limited to the gums and there's no loss of the supporting bone, that may be gingivitis, which can generally be reversed with appropriate professional care and good home hygiene.

Once periodontal disease has caused loss of the supporting tissues and bone, those changes aren't simply reversed by a routine cleaning. That's why it's important to have regular evaluations and address problems before they become more advanced.

What is the first line of treatment for periodontal disease?

For many patients diagnosed with periodontitis, initial treatment may include what is commonly referred to as a deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing. During this treatment, we're cleaning underneath the gums and along the root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar that you can't reach with your toothbrush or floss.

Removing those deposits helps reduce inflammation and creates a healthier environment for the gum tissues. Afterward, we'll reevaluate how the gums respond and determine if additional periodontal treatment or ongoing maintenance is needed.

Is periodontal treatment or deep cleaning painful?

One of the biggest concerns that patients express when they hear the words deep cleaning or periodontal treatment is, "Is it going to be painful?" And I think that's a great question.

Before we see you for these deeper cleanings, we'll go through what to expect, what the appointment is like, and what makes it different from a regular cleaning. We can use local anesthetic to numb the areas being treated and help keep you comfortable while we're cleaning underneath the gums.

The appointment may take longer than a routine cleaning because we're working carefully along the root surfaces and periodontal pockets. If you're uncomfortable at any point, let us know so we can adjust what we're doing.

Want to learn more? Call Affinity Smiles at (847) 780-2114 or email [email protected]. Our team is happy to answer your questions and help schedule your visit.

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