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Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)

Your teeth are intended to last a lifetime. They will if you care for them properly. This means brushing and flossing daily, and regular visits to your dentist and hygienist to help avoid gum disease.

Gum disease is an infection of the gum and bone that holds teeth in place. As the disease progresses bone literally dissolves away from the tooth causing the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Once you have had gum disease you will always be susceptible to recurring problems so it is very important that you continue to visit the dentist on a regular basis.

Periodontal disease is often painless and you may not be aware that you have a problem until your gums and the supporting bone are seriously damaged. It may develop slowly or progress quite rapidly. More than half of all people over 18 have at least the early stages of periodontal disease. Even more frightening, after the age of 35, three out of four people are affected.

The good news is that periodontal diseases often can be treated in the early stages with a treatment called scaling and root planing (or deep cleaning). Once gum health is established, it will probably be necessary to have 3-4 month cleaning visits in order to maintain an infection-free state.

The ADA Early Warning Signs of Gum Disease. (If you notice any of the following signs please call and make an appointment with a hygienist immediately.)

• Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth

• Gums are red, swollen or tender

• Pus between teeth and gums when gums are pressed

• Permanent teeth are loose or separating

• Change in the way your teeth fit when biting

• Any changes in fit of partial dentures

• Persistent bad breath

It is possible that the bacteria involved in gum disease somehow manage to migrate to other parts of the body and do damage there. It can affect the heart, brain and other organs in the body. Modern medicine is connecting this disorder to a variety of underlying physical problems.

Gum and periodontal disease has been linked to:

• Infective endocarditis: A potentially fatal disease in which the inner lining of the heart becomes inflamed.

• Diabetes: Studies have shown that diabetics with gum disease were three times more likely to have heart attacks than those without gum disease.

• Spontaneous pre-term births: Women with gum disease are 7-8 times more likely to give birth prematurely to low birth-weight babies. Researchers believe that the low-grade infection causes damaged cells to release inflammation causing substances that have been linked with pre-term births.

• Lung Infections: This specifically happens to people with chronic lung disease.

• A weakened immune system: It takes longer than usual to heal wounds.

If you think that you might have gum disease or periodontal disease call our office to schedule an appointment with our hygienist at 225-926-4640. Cosmetic Dentistry

We are excited by the healthier and more attractive smiles we create for our patients. Today, many relatively simple options exist to improve your smile, too! Your smile communicates a lot about how you feel about yourself. Even a minor flaw in your smile can keep you from feeling your best about the way you look. In the past, we had few options to improve teeth that were chipped, stained or crooked. However, now a wide range of cosmetic dental techniques can benefit almost any smile. Cosmetic dentistry is a blending of art and science. With a focus on esthetic results and using a variety of the latest restorative techniques and materials, we can enhance your smile to give it a more pleasing appearance.

Some of the conditions that may be helped by cosmetic dentistry are:

• Diastemas (spaces between the teeth)

• Broken or chipped teeth

• Unsightly, stained or washed-out fillings

• Cracked or leaking fillings

• Permanently stained or discolored teeth

• Crooked or poorly shaped teeth

Related Links Academy of General Dentistry - The best consumer information on the Internet for dentistry. American Dental Association: Patients and Consumers Guide - Information about many different dental procedures, information for parents, online list of dentists, and advice about dental insurance. Waterlase - Painless Laser Dentistry - For more information about the Waterlase™ dental laser. Implant Dentistry - Information about dental implants for missing teeth or loose dentures.