How Do You Know If You Have Bone Loss and Periodontal Disease?
This is a good question because periodontal disease is not usually painful! You may know that you have had bone loss around your teeth if they start to feel loose. A good dentist will always tell you if you have periodontal disease and the best way to manage this disease.
- Bone loss will show up on x-rays. Your dentist should be able to show you exactly where there has been bone loss in your mouth.
- Bone loss often involves root exposure.
Active Periodontal disease and gingivitis
- You may have gum recession where the gums are not in their normal position at the neck of the tooth.
- Your teeth may look longer than they used to because root is exposed.
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria. There are good and bad bacteria living in everyone’s mouth. It is an infectious disease meaning that you can get the bacteria that cause periodontal disease from someone else. You can also transfer the harmful bacteria form an area of periodontal disease in your own mouth to another, healthy area in your mouth.
Some people are more prone to periodontal disease than others. This is another reason why I think the disease is poorly understood and why the treatment of periodontal disease needs to be customized to you! Gum disease can and does lead to periodontal disease.
Why does our office care so much about your periodontal health?
After age 30, gum disease and periodontal disease is the major reason for tooth loss. Periodontal disease is the #1 cause of adult tooth loss in the US. And we have so many great methods to treat this disease! Please call our office at (970) 242-3635 to schedule an appointment to see what your periodontal health status is.