Dr. Sara T. Truong is a dentist and has answered some of the most common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Periodontal Disease.
Q. What is periodontal (gum) disease?
A. Periodontal disease, also known as pyorrhea is an inflammation or an infection of the gums and bone which support the teeth. It typically starts with an accumulation of a soft, sticky, bacterial substance called plaque that forms on the teeth. When this is left to sit on the teeth for an extended period of time, the bacterial substances combines with the minerals in the saliva to form deposits on the teeth called calculus or tartar. At this time, these same bacteria also start to produce toxic by-products that cause the gum and bone tissues to react by becoming red and swollen, and by bleeding easily. When the mouth’s natural defense systems gets overwhelmed, the bone that the teeth sit in erode away leaving the teeth loose and unstable. Periodontal disease can be aggravated by diet and nutrition, hormones, medications used, and poor health. The same bacteria that cause gum disease has also been linked to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, low birth-weight, premature babies, and even arthritis and other immune system related disorders.
Q. What are the signs of periodontal (gum) disease?
A. Warning signs of Periodontal Disease are:
• Bleeding Gums
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth (the teeth look "longer")
• Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
• Teeth that appear to be shifting or seem loose
• Changes in the way the teeth fit together (your "bite" seems different)
Something to think about: It has been estimated that the surface area of your gums is equivalent to the size of your palm. So if your palm is red and swollen and is bleeding would you be concerned? What would you do and how quickly?
Q. Who gets periodontal disease?
A. It is estimated that 61% of adults 25 years and older and 86% of adults 45 years and older have at least one periodontal disease site in their mouths. This makes periodontal disease an extremely widespread affliction.
Q. How do I know if I have a gum disease? What should I do if I think I have gum disease? And what treatments are needed?
A. A person may have periodontal disease without noticing any symptoms. Bone may be quietly eroding without producing noticeable changes until too late. This is why it is so important to have regular dental evaluations that include periodontal measurements of the gums and well as an examination of the teeth, and to treat any signs of infection immediately so that the condition does not get worse.
Your dentist and hygienist will set up a plan for you to help you control your periodontal disease. Once periodontal disease has been determined it is very difficult to reverse the damage, but what we can do is to prevent it from spreading. This plan may include scaling and root planning. Using special dental instruments the embedded bacteria and their toxins are cleaned away. Medication is put into the gums to help healing. Immaculate home care is essential and beside improving your brushing and flossing, your dentist may recommend an FDA approved medical device to allow you to place medicine in you gums to help the healing process on a daily basis. Like high blood pressure and diabetes or asthma, controlling periodontal disease typically depends on continual or possibly life-time maintenance. If conditions do not improve, surgery may be required, including the placement of bone or bone substitutes in deeper defect areas.
Q. Who is a periodontist?
A. Depending on your dentist’s training and expertise in the field of periodontal disease, your dentist may decide to treat you or refer you to a gum specialist, a periodontist, to treat your condition. If you are referred, your dentist will work closely with the periodontist to monitor your condition.
Q. How to contact Dr. Truong if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
485 South Drive, Suite C
Mountain View, CA 94040
Phone: (650) 961-4766
Fax: (650) 961-4768
Email: saratruongdds@comcast.net
Website: http://www.asmileforme.com/
