The main cause of periodontal disease is bacteria that form of sticky colonies of plaque (bacteria) on your teeth. Many local and systemic factors can cause periodontal disease or influence its progression.

Your bone and gum tissue in health fit snuggly around your teeth like a turtleneck. The bone supports the tooth root much in the same was as earth supports a fence-post. The gum is simply a carpet that covers the bony floor. In health, the gum carpet is firmly biologically glued to the teeth, isolating the jawbone from your oral cavity. Over time bacteria can accumulate and break the gum seal providing a pathway for bacteria to reach and destroy the bone holding your teeth. This dead space between the gum-line and the surface of the jawbone fills with infected and inflamed tissue and is called a pocket. If left untreated the pocket deepens, teeth loosen and more and more bone is lost. Your teeth can loosen much in the way a fence-post loosens, as you dig away more and more earth. This process leads to tooth loss, as well as loss of gum and jawbone. The periodontal infection also increases the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy problems, and other serious systemic diseases. This link between periodontal and systemic disease has been well documented in the medical and dental literature. When you have periodontal disease the supporting tissue and bone is destroyed forming “pockets” around the teeth. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria. As bacteria develops around the teeth, it can accumulate and advance under gum tissue and destroy the bone which anchor your teeth. These deep pockets collect even more bacteria, resulting in further bone and tissue loss. Eventually, too much bone is lost, and teeth need to be extracted.

PROCEDURE

The gum is gently folded back exposing the tooth, roots, and affected bone. The roots are smoothed and cleaned. The diseased, irregular bone is smoothed to provide an optimal environment for the gum to re-attach to the tooth roots eliminating the pockets and providing healthy soft tissue and bone aiding in the maintenance of periodontal health.