WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Just as there can be problems with your teeth that have to be addressed by a dentist, there can also be problems with those tissues that hold the teeth in the mouth. These include the gums and the bone that the tooth is anchored to. One of the most common of these conditions is called periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is an infectious disease of the gums and bone caused by the bacteria which is found in dental plaque. Plaque is composed of colonies of bacteria that grow continuously in your mouth and is found along the gumline and in between your teeth. Our body’s natural defenses (our immune system) tries to fight off these bacteria with a process called inflammation. As a result of the presence of this plaque and the inflammation that our body produces to fight it off, our gums can turn red, become swollen and bleed easily. If left untreated, the gums can separate from the teeth and the bone that holds the teeth in place can dissolve away leading to infection, loosening of the teeth and eventually, tooth loss.
We now know that periodontal disease can affect more than just our teeth. The same inflammation that affects our gums has far reaching affects on other parts of our body. Studies have indicated that periodontal disease can increase the risk for cardiovascular (heart) disease, respiratory disease (diseases of the lungs) osteoporosis, and can accelerate the progression of diabetes. This is especially true of Type II or “non insulin dependent diabetes.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, Periodontal, or gum disease, can be managed to allow you to keep your teeth for a lifetime.
At this point I thought you could finish it any way you’d like. Something along the lines of “if Dr. Nelson recognizes this he can treat it or refer to a periodontist” or however you’d like.
