You may think of hygiene visits as just a regular cleaning and exam, but we see them as opportunities to stop periodontal problems in their tracks.

Why are healthy gums so important?

Without your gums to hold your teeth in place, your smile would be nonexistent. Healthy gums are the first step to complete oral health. Taking care of periodontal problems is how we begin dental treatment with our new guests.

Did you know that more people lose teeth from periodontal disease than cavities? We want your restorative treatments to last. Healthy gums are critical for that to happen.

Did you also know that advanced cases of periodontal disease are contagious and can be transferred to loved ones from kissing?

The bacteria that causes periodontal disease also has been linked to serious health problems such as heart diseases, poor circulation and premature and low birth weight babies. When we treat periodontal disease, our concern is for your overall health, not just your teeth.

How prevalent is periodontal disease?

More than 75 percent of people have some level of periodontal or gum disease. Why? Often, it is misdiagnosed or simply ignored. We use advance training and technology to diagnose and treat periodontal disease before it becomes a major threat to your health.

What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?

There often are no symptoms. Gums can recede, leaving teeth vulnerable to decay, abscesses and tooth loss – all without any bleeding or tenderness. But many people have at least minor symptoms, which can include the following:

What is the cause of periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. By thorough daily brushing and flossing you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease. However, when the bacteria form in gum pockets which are greater then 3 mm, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage a successful home care regimen without professional help from the dentist or hygienist. Deeper pockets attract the harmful bacteria which cannot easily be removed by the patient. This harmful bacterium is what leads to bone loss around the teeth, often leading to tooth loss.

Some factors that may contribute to periodontal disease are family history, medications, age, gender, family transmission, smoking, clenching/grinding, stress, osteoporosis, diabetes and hormones. It is important to remember that there is no cure for periodontal disease, it can only be controlled and maintained.

What type of treatment is offered for someone who has Periodontal Disease?

We have a comprehensive non-surgical periodontal program to fight this disease. Included in the therapy program is the use of ultra-sonic scaling (a device utilizing high frequency vibration) to aid in calculus and plaque removal from the teeth. Additionally, hand scaling is used to smooth the roots and antimicrobial irrigation helps reduce bacteria. We may also use site specific chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial rinses and fluoride treatments to help combat this disease.

As part of the periodontal program we place a strong emphasis on your oral hygiene at home. At your first visit of the periodontal program, you will receive the Rota-dent homecare instrument, with instructions on proper use. At subsequent visits our hygienist will make sure you are using the Rota-dent properly and go over your hygiene. We realize that managing your “gum problem” will be the result of a joint effort between you, Dr. Bushdid and our hygienist.

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

There are so many products on the market it can become confusing and choosing between all the products can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.

We recommend using soft bristle toothbrushes. Automatic and "high-tech" electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for the majority of the patients, but not all are created equal and some can be very abrasive. We see excellent results with the Rota-dent homecare instrument, which we dispense in our office.

Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth thoroughly, but will not remove plaque. You need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator.

Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle; this is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your hygienist.

Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age.

As far as toothpastes are concerned, there are a variety of toothpastes these days. We recommend avoiding the whitening or tartar control toothpastes, especially if you have sensitive teeth, as they can be very abrasive. We recommend using any ADA approved toothpaste that has fluoride or any of the toothpastes that are for sensitive teeth, such as Sensodyne.