Bacterial infection of the gums is the most common reason for loss of teeth. The usual symptoms are bleeding gums while brushing or flossing. Many patients don't have these warning signs until the infection has reached an advanced state. It's best to seek treatment in the earliest stages of this problem. If you wait too long, surgery may be the only remedy to reverse the condition. Otherwise, nonsurgical methods can work very well to return your gums to a healthy state. Both types of treatment are usually covered under a dental insurance plan.
Gum infections have now been linked to
other serious health conditions. Medical research has provided studies
that show how the bacteria in the gums travel through the bloodstream
and affect vital organs, contributing to the problems of heart disease,
diabetes, and stroke.
The American Dental Association has statistics on periodontal (gum) disease indicating more than three-quarters of Americans are afflicted with some level of gum infection. This high percentage could be recognized as a national epidemic. Dentists now recognize that gum disease can be a much more serious problem than losing your teeth.
The American Academy of Periodontology reports that "studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases."
Gum surgery can be replaced with nonsurgical methods, if treatment begins before the infection is chronic and advanced. When you wait until the problem is severe, surgery may be the only option. Improved daily hygiene coupled with nonsurgical methods have been a very successful alternative and easier for patients. Both types of care are generally covered by dental insurance plans.
You may think it is no big deal to have missing teeth, but eventually, other problems result from incomplete dental arches. Chewing will become more difficult, which may result in favoring softer, high-calorie foods that are less nutritious. Continuing this type of diet often means gaining unwanted weight. Not only are missing teeth unattractive in your smile, you can take on an aged appearance, as the contours in your face sag and hollow due to loss of bone density. Speaking may become embarrassing at times. Without the support of successive teeth in your dental arches, other teeth can become loose or shift. Dental implants have been proven to successfully resolve the problems associated with missing teeth. No matter where you have teeth missing, these natural-looking and fully functioning implants will recapture a healthy smile that gives you all the capabilities of your natural teeth.
Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss, but combating it doesn't have to be challenging. Dr. Ionescu uses an easy, yet powerfully effective antibiotic called ARESTIN. It is a powder that is applied directly to the pockets of infection in the gums. The tiny microspheres go to work around the clock to time-release this medication and kill the bacteria. It gives great results, allowing the gums to be healthy again, and the treatment is entirely painless.
We can help arrest your gum disease and bring your smile back to health. Give us a call today at (916) 685-4662.