Periodontal (Gum) Disease

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket: generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket. Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. Gingivitis may lead to more serious, destructive forms of periodontal disease called periodontitis.
Check out more here:
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/periodontal_diseases.asp
http://www.arestin.com/understanding-gum-periodontal.jsp

Diagnosis

Any member of your dental healthcare team—your dentist, your hygienist, or your periodontist—can determine whether you have periodontal disease by measuring the size of your pockets, or the spaces or gaps in the gums around the teeth. This is done with a special instrument that is much like a tiny ruler. Pockets that measure 4 or more millimeters (mm) in depth, and/or gums that bleed during probing, may mean that infection is present. Read more

Treatment

Dental professionals commonly treat periodontal disease with a mechanical procedure known as scaling and root planing (SRP). Scaling removes plaque, tartar, and stains from the surface of teeth. Planing smoothes the rough areas on the roots of teeth to promote healing. Read more

Antibiotic Therapy For Periodontal Disease

Powder Microspheres that are filled with the antibiotic minocycline, are placed in the periodontal pocket and they release the drug over time into the infected periodontal pocket, killing the bacteria that causes periodontal disease. Read more

Long Term Periodontal Care

Following some basic oral hygiene guidelines at home can help prevent periodontal disease. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and clean between the teeth with floss or interdental cleaners once a day to help remove plaque and food debris that toothbrushes may not reach. Your dental professional may also recommend the daily use of an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Once you receive initial treatment for periodontal disease and the infection has been treated, continuous professional care known as periodontal maintenance should be performed. Because the bacteria that cause periodontal disease are persistent, the infection can return. Read more


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