For more information on gum disease prevention and periodontal treatment, contact our Philadelphia practice.
We used to think that medical and dental treatment were not connected; that the mouth, teeth, and gums didn’t affect the rest of the body . The latest and continuing research has proven that idea dead wrong. We now know that gum disease is linked to a wide and ever-growing range of serious medical problems. Heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, upper respiratory infection, Alzheimer ’s disease, diabetes, and low-birthweight and pre-term babies are all strongly linked to gum disease. A healthy mouth is no longer just about keeping your teeth – it is about your overall health, and strong teeth are only one component of a healthy mouth. The gums that hold the teeth in place must be cared for as well. The natural space between gum tissue and teeth can trap food debris and bacteria; this may result in an infection that causes the space to deepen, which is the first stage of gum disease. Periodontal treatment performed at our Philadelphia practice, JFK Dental Care, can help reverse the damage and allow the gums to heal, but prevention is the best treatment. Dr. Barry Dubin is an expert on the link between gum disease and systemic illness, and gives lectures to other dentists on the dangers of untreated periodontal disease.
Gum disease is a very serious condition that can go unnoticed for years without regular dental exams. Once begun, the disease will worsen without treatment until it threatens not only the gums, but also the bone and connective tissues, and your overall health. Gum disease is rarely painful until the infection has become severe. Unfortunately, it can allow bacteria into the system which sets up chronic inflammation, which may trigger other health problems throughout the body. In pregnant women, it sometimes threatens the development of the unborn child and in diabetics it can interfere with the regulation of blood sugar. The repercussions of gum disease to health is so significant that anyone undergoing joint replacement or cardiac surgery is usually required by their physician to first get clearance from their dentist. The only good news about gum disease is that if it is detected early enough through regular dental exams, it can be controlled with periodontal treatment.
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The most common periodontal treatment for gum disease performed at our Philadelphia practice is a dental procedure known as scaling and root planing, combined with the administration of a local antibiotic directly into the diseased pockets. This procedure involves the removal of all plaque and tartar below the gum line, deep into the periodontal pocket. Then, the surfaces of the tooth roots are planed, or smoothed, so that bacteria are less able to adhere and the gum tissue can heal. The antibiotic called Arestin® is a timed-release, locally applied medicine which controls the bacteria in the pocket long enough for the tissue to heal. Deep pockets may require more than one treatment and timing is critical. If bacteria are allowed to re-invade the pockets between teeth and gums, the gum disease will return. The success of this procedure is entirely dependant on subsequent gum care and ongoing maintenance.
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If the infection is severe and does not respond to scaling and root planing treatment with Arestin®, more aggressive measures will need to be taken, such as oral surgery. There are several procedures that may be implemented, according to the unique conditions of a specific case. These include surgery to allow access to plaque and tartar trapped in extremely deep periodontal pockets, bone surgery to replace bone tissue lost to decay, or soft-tissue grafts to reverse severe gum recession. A degree of gum disease that requires this type of treatment can pose serious risks to teeth, gums, and overall health. Fortunately, gum disease can be treated and health restored, but ongoing maintenance and regular checkups are vital to everyone’s overall health.
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To begin preventing gum disease, or to seek periodontal treatment, contact our Philadelphia office today and schedule your consultation with Dr. Barry Dubin.