Dental Hygiene/Periodontal Health

Your dental hygiene is the cornerstone to a healthy mouth. Dental hygiene is the process by which preventative dental care is provided to avoid dental emergencies. At the core of dental hygiene is the in-home dental care regimen you perform. Your at-home routine is supplemented with professional preventative dental by a dentist and dental hygienists. Tooth brushing is important, though it alone will not remove the plaque that builds up over time. Plaque must be removed to lower your risk of toothaches, cavities, periodontal disease or even the loss of all your teeth.

Plaque Build-Up

Over time, plaque builds up on the teeth. If it forms below the gum line, bacteria can invade and create other dental problems. Furthermore, the surfaces and areas between the teeth and under the gum line must be maintained and treated on a regular basis in order to ensure proper dental hygiene. These areas are impossible for you to examine yourself; they require a professional touch.

Periodontal Disease and Treatment

Untreated, gingivitis may lead to more serious, destructive forms of periodontal disease called periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

Periodontal bacteria can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs and begin new infections. Research is suggesting that this may:

  • Contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death.
  • Increase the risk of stroke.
  • Increase a woman's risk of having a preterm, low birth weight baby.
  • Pose a serious threat to people whose health is compromised by diabetes, respiratory diseases, or osteoporosis.

The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. However, a number of other factors can contribute to gum disease. These include: Hormonal changes, Illnesses, Medications, Bad habits such as smoking also make it harder for gum tissue to repair itself, Poor oral hygiene habits and Family history of dental disease.

There are also other factors which increase your risk of developing periodontal disease such as:

  • Tobacco smoking or chewing
  • Systemic diseases such as diabetes
  • Some types of medication such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives
  • Bridges that no longer fit properly
  • Crooked teeth
  • Fillings that have become defective
  • Pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives

The following are the most common symptoms of gum disease. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

  • red, swollen, tender gums
  • bleeding while brushing and/or flossing
  • receding gums
  • loose or separating teeth
  • persistent bad breath or bad taste
  • permanent teeth that are loose or separating
  • any change in the fit of partial dentures
  • pus between the teeth and gums
  • any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

Periodontal Treatments

The main goal of periodontal disease treatment is to control the infection. The number and types of treatment will vary, depending on the extent of the disease. Any type of treatment requires that the patient keep up good daily care at home. Additionally, modifying certain behaviors, such as quitting tobacco use, might also be suggested as a way to improve treatment outcome.

Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)

The dentist, periodontist, or dental hygienist removes the plaque through a deep-cleaning method called scaling and root planing. Scaling means scraping off the tartar from above and below the gum line. Root planing gets rid of rough spots on the tooth root where the germs gather, and helps remove bacteria that contribute to the disease.

Medications

Medications may be used with treatment that includes scaling and root planing, but they cannot always take the place of surgery. Depending on the severity of gum disease, the dentist or periodontist may still suggest surgical treatment. Long-term studies will be needed to determine whether using medications reduces the need for surgery and whether they are effective over a long period of time. Some medications that are currently used are prescription antimicrobial rinses, antiseptic chips, and antibiotic gels.

Surgery

Flap Surgery might be necessary if inflammation and deep pockets remain following treatment with deep cleaning and medications. A periodontist may perform flap surgery to remove tartar deposits in deep pockets or to reduce the periodontal pocket and make it easier for the patient, dentist, and hygienist to keep the area clean. This common surgery involves lifting back the gums and removing the tartar. The gums are then sutured back in place so that the tissue fits snugly around the tooth again.

Bone and Tissue Grafts

In addition to flap surgery, your dentist may suggest bone or tissue grafts. Grafting is a way to replace or encourage new growth of bone or gum tissue destroyed by periodontitis. A technique that can be used with bone grafting is called guided tissue regeneration, in which a small piece of mesh-like fabric is inserted between the bone and gum tissue. This keeps the gum tissue from growing into the area where the bone should be, allowing the bone and connective tissue to regrow.

Since each case is different, it is not possible to predict with certainty which grafts will be successful over the long-term. Treatment results depend on many things, including severity of the disease, ability to maintain oral hygiene at home, and certain risk factors, such as smoking, which may lower the chances of success.

PerioProtect

The Method is a combination of treatments, including a non-invasive chemical debriding therapy used in conjunction with traditional mechanical debriding procedures. The chemical therapy involves a tray delivery of doctor-prescribed solutions to chemically debride biofilm from the periodontal pocket and alter the pocket's microbiological environment to disrupt biofilm growth. For most people following the Perio Protect Method, the placement of prescribed solutions into a periodontal pocket via a customized prescription tray requires only minutes each day. Patients describe the tray delivery as comfortable and appreciate its non-invasive technology. For more information go to www.perioprotect.com

Since each case is different, it is not possible to predict with certainty which grafts will be successful over the long-term. Treatment results depend on many things, including severity of the disease, ability to maintain oral hygiene at home, and certain risk factors, such as smoking, which may lower the chances of success.

Every 6 Months

Dental hygienists are often responsible for performing professional tooth cleaning, taking X-rays, identifying changes in the bite and investigating components that relate to the bone. The American Dental Association recommends that patients visit with their dentist and dental hygienist a minimum of two times each year to maintain proper dental hygiene.

Oral Cancer Screenings

In addition to the meticulous cleaning, polishing, and examination of your teeth, we also take the time to help our patients develop proper oral hygiene habits at home. We will evaluate your hygiene techniques and make adjustments to your routine where needed. During you initial visit, Dr. Work will do an Oral Cancer screening. This allows the doctor to check for early changes in the oral tissue and in turn can help detect cancer at a stage when it can be more successfully treated.

Smoking, especially combined with heavy alcohol consumption is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country. Other lifestyle and environmental factors also may increase your risk of developing oral cancer.