Periodontics (Gum
Disease)
Periodontal disease is
an infection of the
gums and/or bone that
surrounds the tooth.
usually the disease is
painless, and most
patients are not aware
they have a problem
until examined by a
dentist.
With a healthy tooth,
the root is set in the
jawbone with a strong
ligament, which keeps
the tooth firmly
attached to the bone.
Gum covers the bone,
and like skin,
protects it from
bacteria that are
continually present in
the mouth. The gum
connects to the neck
of the tooth with a
band of fibers, which
is inserting just
above the bone into
the root. In a healthy
situation, the gum
border is higher than
the fiber attachment,
forming a room around
the tooth. This is
similar to having a
turtleneck sweater,
and this
sulcus should
be 2-3 millimeters in
depth.
First Stage of
Periodontal Disease
The first stage of
periodontal disease is
gum tenderness, or
gingivitis. The body
reacts to the bacteria
by bringing in blood
vessels, which carry
cells to demolish the
bacteria. This makes
the tissue appear red,
perhaps swollen, and
patients may notice
bleeding when cleaning
their teeth.
As the bacteria
advances down the
tooth, the inside
lining of the gum, and
the bone, are
destroyed. This
penetration of
bacteria forms a
periodontal pocket, or
deepened space between
the gum and tooth. By
measuring the depth of
the space with a
periodontal probe your
dentist can see how
much bone loss has
occurred.
