Did you know that 75% of Americans have some form of periodontal disease? In fact periodontal disease is the number one cause of adult tooth loss. Some patients are unaware they have this condition because the damage is caused below the gum line. This is why every patient in our practice is screened periodically for signs and symptoms of this serious problem. We use a special ruler known as a periodontal probe to measure the distance between your gum line and the underlying bone. Based on the measurements obtained by this test, we can determine a grade for your condition, and coordinate your treatment.
Some questions to ask are:
Do my gums bleed when I brush?
Are my gums red, puffy, or swollen?
Have my gums receded?
Do I have any loose teeth or have I recently lost a tooth?
Do I have persistent bad breath?
Risk factors of periodontal disease include:
Smoking
Diabetes, High Blood Pressure
Antidepressant Medications
Stress
Heart Medications
These are just some of the risks and signs of periodontal disease which may aid us in your diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease we will discuss what specific treatments can be provided to treat your needs.
In addition to conventional treatments we offer ARESTIN. This patented therapy places an antibiotic directly into the affected site. The treatment is painless and in some cases can prevent the need for surgery.