If you live in Gardena, California and suspect you may have gum disease, Dentist of Gardena can help. One of the first things we’ll do is check for periodontal pockets. In this blog post, we will explain what periodontal pockets are, what causes them, and how they can be treated.
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, occurs due to plaque and tartar buildup at and below the gumline next to the teeth. The plaque attracts bacteria that multiply (sometimes exponentially!). The bacteria excrete acids that inflame the gums and eat away at tooth enamel. At its extreme, periodontal disease results in bone loss and tooth loss.
When periodontal disease first starts, it begins with gum inflammation, called gingivitis. As it progresses, gingivitis turns into a full-blown gum infection called periodontitis.
(Whenever you see the prefix “period…” in dentistry, it is referring to the gums and supporting tooth structures, technically called “periodontium.” The gums themselves are officially called “gingiva.”)
Periodontal pockets are pockets that form in the gums due to bacteria irritating and eating away at the gum and tooth tissue. The deeper the periodontal pockets, the more advanced the periodontal disease has become.
As the periodontal pockets grow in size, the teeth become more unstable. They can become wobbly and loose. When periodontal disease becomes very serious, the bone supporting the teeth can degrade causing permanent tooth loss.
Bacteria that gets trapped between the teeth and gumline cause periodontal pockets. These bacteria feed off of plaque and tartar buildup, which is caused by normal eating and drinking. However, tartar buildup can become aggravated and worsened by poor dental hygiene.
Also, some people are more likely to develop periodontal disease due to genetics, and diabetics are also more prone. A weakened immune system can also exacerbate periodontal disease.
Twice daily brushing and flossing along with regular checkups and tooth cleanings with Dentist of Gardena can prevent gum disease and periodontal pockets.
When you come to our dentist office in Gardena, California to be checked for gum disease, we will first do a thorough oral examination. If we see signs of gum inflammation, such as red, swollen, and/or bleeding gums, this is a sign to check for periodontal pockets. Some periodontal pockets may also be visible to the naked eye.
To measure periodontal pockets, we will use a special, sanitized metal probe to determine the depth of the pockets. This process is relatively painless, although if your gums are tender, you might feel a little bit of pressure.
We can easily determine the rate of gum disease by how deep your periodontal pockets are. Periodontal dentists have come up with a standardized way of measuring the depth of periodontal pockets. The standards are as follows:
Don’t let the terms “early or mild” fool you or make you complacent. At 3 mm of periodontal pocket depth, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) has set in.
Gingivitis, gum inflammation, is the first sign of periodontal disease. You may notice that your gums are a little red, tender, and swollen. They may bleed when you brush and floss your teeth.
Another sign of gingivitis and encroaching periodontal disease is receding gums. Receding gums are actually a sign that periodontal pockets are growing and becoming visible, so now is the time to visit your dentist in Gardena to get checkout out and treated right away!
Pain is another sign that you may have periodontal disease. Teeth that have rather large pockets can become sensitive to cold and hot foods. If a serious gum infection sets in, this can also become painful.
Finally, if teeth are becoming loose, shifting, or becoming unstable, this is also a sign that the periodontium (gums and bones) aren’t supporting your teeth like they should. Come see us right away at Dentist of Gardena so we can halt the progression of periodontal disease before you lose one or more teeth.
At its earlier stages such as gingivitis, periodontal disease can be halted and the progression stopped. In some cases, the periodontal pockets can actually start to heal and become whole again. This is of course more likely to occur with mild periodontal disease.
As periodontal disease progresses, it can do permanent damage to the teeth and gums as well as the supporting bone structure in your jaw. We can certainly fix a lot of this damage through advanced dental surgery techniques, so don’t worry if yours has progressed that far. However, we won’t be able to “reverse” the periodontal disease so much as stop it from getting worse. Then, we can restore your teeth and gums through restorative dentistry.
The mainstay of periodontal treatment is deep root scaling and planing, which is basically a deep cleaning beneath the gumline to remove tartar (calculus) and plaque that are feeding the bad bacteria in your mouth.
These deep periodontal cleanings are much more involved than a standard tooth cleaning and may require the use of a special ultrasound tool. We may numb the gums and work on your teeth in quadrants, perhaps doing two sections of the mouth at a time.
Once this deep cleaning is done, we will schedule regular maintenance periodontal cleanings that are more like regular tooth cleanings but a bit more aggressive.
If you have advanced periodontal disease with gum, bone, or tooth loss, we may recommend some dental surgeries, including gum and bone grafts as well as dental implants to replace teeth. We will discuss these options as necessary.
At Dentist of Gardena, we have had great success treating our patients with periodontal disease. Of course, the earlier it is caught and treated the better the outcome, but we have helped patients at all stages of the disease.
When you come in for your periodontal consultation, we will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums, checking for any signs of tooth decay, gum inflammation, and periodontal pockets. We will then use a periodontal probe to check the depth of the periodontal pockets. Depending on what we find, we will come up with a treatment plan to help get you back on track with your oral health.
Are you concerned that you may have deep periodontal pockets in Gardena, California? Dentist of Gardena can help with our advanced periodontal disease treatments. Contact us right away at (424) 321-7470 to schedule your periodontal appointment today!