As with any disease, when caught in its early stages, the chances of reversing or curing periodontal disease improve. So, if your dentist diagnoses you with the first periodontal disease stage, known as gingivitis, your chances of nipping it in the bud are good. In most cases, it can be treated and cured. In the later stages of gum disease, periodontitis, cures are more difficult, if not impossible. A lot depends on the stage of the disease, your general health, and how soon you catch it. Similar to other infections, even the beginning stages can signal that you may be susceptible to gum infection. You will need to be vigilant and maintain healthy dental hygiene practices.
3 Stages of Periodontal Disease
- Chronic
- Aggressive
- Necrotizing
What’s the Difference?
People with the chronic type have flair-ups from time. Regular dental checkups keep the condition under control. The aggressive type usually starts in childhood or early adulthood. Its onset is rather rapid. It is crucial that parents take immediate action or the child may risk both bone and/or tooth loss. Necrotizing periodontal disease is a serious condition generally present in people with compromised immune systems.
Chronic v Aggressive Gum Disease
In chronic periodontal disease, large amounts of dental plaque around the gum base cause bacterial inflammation. Patients experience bleeding gums, particularly when brushing, and have a “bad taste” in their mouth. The progression of chronic periodontal disease is generally relatively slow. This leads some people to avoid treatment, thinking the condition will go away by itself. It will not. Untreated pockets of puss develop between teeth and the gum line causing tissue loss and eventually the destruction of bone and tooth loss. Smoking and poor dental hygiene are associated with chronic gum disease.
Aggressive periodontal disease is less common than chronic periodontitis and generally affects younger patients. It is thought to be genetically inherited. The aggressive form usually involves multiple teeth and a loss of gum tissue, which in some cases begins before puberty. Besides infection with specific microorganisms, a young patient’s genetic predisposition may play a role. Family histories are useful for diagnosis and treatment.
Necrotizing Periodontal Disease, the most serious form of gum disease, is closely associated with other diseases, particularly diabetes. People with severe periodontitis may have higher levels of HvA1C, a form of glucose-linked hemoglobin used to measure how well diabetes is under control. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), periodontitis may affect blood glucose control. People who have diabetes may be more susceptible to the bacterial infection that leads to gum disease.
Get Treatment Now!
As reported, 47% of adults over age 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Regular dental checkups are essential in diagnosing the condition in its early stages and to its successful treatment. Don’t wait! If you are concerned about periodontal disease, call us now at (610) 550-3333 to speak with our dentist. Think Oral Implants and Periodontics offices are located at 250 W. Lancaster Ave., Suite 215, Paoli, PA 19301.
