Periodontal disease and Dental Implants ? Why should you care?
- What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is the inflammation of gums and loss of bone around teeth. It may be a silent process, often with no pain or discomfort. Occasional bleeding of gums / staining of teeth might be seen. If left untreated it can lead to tooth loss. Both young and old can be affected by periodontal disease. It is estimated that 75% of the Indian population has periodontal disease, often undiagnosed ! One of the biggest reasons is it does not have any overt symptoms that might be noticeable to the individual in the early stages. - How can one prevent periodontal disease?
Daily use of dental floss is one of the best ways to prevent periodontal disease. One common mistake is to use a mouth rinse immediately after brushing. By doing this, the active ingredient in the toothpaste cancels the active ingredient in the rinse. It is better to leave a half an hour gap between brushing and using a mouth rinse. - Since periodontal disease often has no noticeable symptoms, it is recommended by the American Academy of Periodontology that every person gets at least a yearly periodontal assessment from a qualified Periodontist (not a general dentist but a gum specialist). By getting periodontal disease assessed early,a later stage tooth loss can be prevented.
- If you have lost teeth, how can they be replaced?
Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants. Dental implants need adequate bone for placement to be possible. If adequate bone is not available, it can be added before implant placement.