Eva Lear
Periodontal disease is the correct name to gum disease and can cover a wide spectrum of conditions ranging from mild gum disease or gingivitis to the most advanced form of gum disease which is called periodontitis. Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection and it can be very destructive.
The good news is that periodontal disease is largely preventable, even though it is incredibly common and it’s likely that most people will develop some form of gum disease or gingivitis during their lifetime. By brushing just twice a day and flossing once a day, you can greatly reduce your risk of developing this condition and this in turn will reduce your risk of tooth loss which is a common side-effect of advanced periodontitis.
Noticing your gums feel tender to touch, are swollen or bright red or will bleed when brushed. In more advanced periodontal disease it’s likely your gums will have begun to pull away from your teeth and as they recede your teeth will begin to look longer than before. In the most advanced cases of gum disease, your teeth will begin to become loose, they may fit together slightly differently as they loosen and you are likely to have a persistent bad taste in your mouth. If you even suspect you have gum disease then it’s worth to book an appointment with a periodontist.
Your regular dentist is excellent for checkups and other routine treatments but with a condition like periodontal disease it’s best to seek specialized care. A periodontist is a specialist dentist who having first trained as a general dentist has chosen to carry out several more years of additional training in treating the gums and structures surrounding your teeth. You don’t need to get a referral from your general dentist to book an appointment with a periodontist such as Dr. Navid Rahmani in Midtown, NYC.
Dr. Rahmani can gently examine your gums and will check to see if they bleed quite easily. This is done by very carefully probing the gums to measure the pocket depth in the space in between your gums and teeth. Measurements are taken at several different sites in your mouth. The depth of these pockets indicates the severity of any gum disease. Where the gums are healthy then the pocket depth should be anywhere between 1 mm and 3 mm but in areas where you have periodontal disease then the pockets will be deeper than 5 mm. If it’s determined you do have gum disease, then Dr. Rahmani can work out a suitable treatment plan to hopefully eradicate the symptoms completely. This is possible when gum disease is caught early on which is why it’s important never to ignore any symptoms.
Treatment depends on how far the disease has advanced. If it is still in its early stages and you just have gingivitis then gum disease is pretty easy to treat. It’s likely Dr. Rahmani will recommend you have your gums professionally deep cleaned in a non-surgical treatment nyc. If the disease is more pronounced advanced then it might be necessary to use a combination of non-surgical and surgical techniques.
