Houston Gum Disease Treatment at Fawcett Center for Dentistry, P.A.

The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that clings to teeth and gums. Even if you brush and floss every day, you may not completely remove plaque, especially around the gum line. The bacteria in plaque create toxins that break down and destroy the gums and bone that support the teeth.

Periodontal disease is a serious infection that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

Signs of Gum Disease

- Bleeding gums	- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Gums separated from the teeth	- Persistent bad breath or bad taste
- Permanent teeth that are loose or falling out	- Teeth shifting position
- Change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite	- Any changes in the fit of partial dentures
- Pus between the teeth & gums when gentle pressure applied

Other Causes of Periodontal Disease

- Smoking/Tobacco Use	- Genetics	- Pregnancy and Puberty
- Stress	- Medications	- Clenching Your Teeth
- Diabetes	- Poor Nutrition	- Grinding Your Teeth
- Other Systemic Diseases: diseases that interfere with the body's immune system may worsen the condition of the gums.

Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Once plaque develops into calculus, the only way to remove it is with a professional cleaning at the dentist’s office. With regular dental checkups, the dentist can detect developing periodontal disease before the gums and the bone are irreversibly damaged. Periodontal disease is progressive – if left untreated, the condition will worsen.

Depending on the type of periodontal disease you are diagnosed with, treatment may include non-surgical treatment directly in Dr. Fawcett’s office, or for more serious cases you may be referred to a periodontist (gum specialist). Non-surgical treatment involves “scaling and root planning” a process that carefully removes plaque and calculus under the gum line in the periodontal pockets. The tooth’s root surfaces are then smoothed (or planed) to allow the gum tissue to heal and reattach to the tooth.

If you've already lost teeth to periodontal disease, you may be interested in discussing the benefits
of dental implants with Dr. Fawcett, which would give you an option for a permanent tooth
replacement solution.

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