Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, affects about 30% of the adult population, and it’s the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. Many denture cases or dental implants begin because of this chronic condition. While not curable, with a dedicated professional hygiene regimen and consistent at-home care, it is controllable.
Gum disease can advance with few signs or symptoms in early stages. Many Las Vegas patients diagnosed with this condition experience no pain and are surprised by the quiet yet swift damage that periodontal disease leaves in its wake. In simple terms, consider the gums and bone around your teeth as the foundation of a house. Just like a Las Vegas, NV, house, the foundation must be sound regardless of the beauty of the home. When the foundation crumbles, the rest of it does too.
Regular dental exams, professional cleanings, and good oral hygiene practices at home are essential to detecting and strategically managing periodontitis.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Our mouths provide a home to millions of bacteria, both beneficial and harmful. Bacterial waste forms a sticky substance, plaque, which adheres to the teeth. Brushing and flossing aim at removing plaque before it mineralizes into tartar. Tartar becomes a colony for more bacteria releasing toxins into the gums.
Gums react to this bacterial invasion with an inflammatory response thanks to your immune system. Around the base of each tooth, there is a small collar of gum tissue that forms a small crevice or pocket. This warm, dark environment provides a perfect habitat for deeper tartar and bacteria to infiltrate.
Early inflammation results in bleeding gums, known as gingivitis. Bacteria left untreated and undisturbed successfully create a chronic infection in the periodontal pocket. In many cases, the bone begins to deteriorate around the teeth. While gums may be slightly tender at this stage, there’s generally minimal discomfort as the bone begins to erode.
More than 50% of the bone around your teeth can disappear before any signs of looseness or pain appear. The bone around teeth never regenerates, so this loss becomes permanent and harder to control as the bacteria hide deeper into the gums. Untreated gum disease leads to abscesses and generalized tooth loss in many advanced cases. Then, people have to consider dentures or implant dentistry to replace missing teeth with dental implants.
Diagnosis
There are several factors we take into account before we make a gum disease diagnosis. The small collar of gum, or pocket, around each tooth usually sits 2-3 millimeters deep, a space easily cleaned by floss or toothpicks. Dr. Baldwin or our hygiene team in Las Vegas, NV can measure and chart multiple areas using a small measuring device called a periodontal probe. If these measurements are more than 3 millimeters and bleed upon probing then periodontal disease is present. Deeper readings indicate more advanced disease than shallower readings.
Dr. Baldwin will also evaluate the texture and shape of your gums, and any movement detectable in each tooth. It’s also vital to examine the levels, shape, and density of the bone around your teeth on digital x-rays. By collecting all of this data, a clear picture forms about your gum condition.
Treatment
After establishing a diagnosis defining the severity of gum disease, if you’re in Las Vegas, NV, we can develop a personalized treatment plan. In milder forms with little or no bone loss, one or two visits with our hygiene team may bring the condition under control. When you leave our office with a strategy for daily home care and an established schedule for maintenance, little additional treatment may be needed.
If the inflammation has advanced and measurable bone loss is evident, a proactive approach to stop further deterioration should be strongly considered. Often, we will suggest gentle numbing of your gums, and a more in-depth cleaning process sometimes called root planing or scaling. Over a few visits, a portion of your mouth at a time will be deep cleaned. The infected pocket around each tooth, including the mineralized tartar, must be carefully cleaned out with hand and ultrasonic instruments. Polishing the teeth to establish glassy surfaces that help repel stain and plaque accumulation usually finishes this initial therapy.
Dr. Baldwin may suggest a medicated rinse, an electric or ultrasonic toothbrush, and other specific strategies to help you with your homecare routine. Remember, gum disease can be controlled but not cured. Dedicated daily efforts must be consistent to control the disease.
Mouth-Body Connection
Research continues to establish clear links between bacterial disease in your mouth and ailments in other parts of the body. Studies show a link between oral bacteria and conditions such as heart disease, stroke, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, even certain types of cancers. The relationship between a person’s oral health and their overall health has never been more understood than it is today.
Bleeding gums provide a direct pathway into the bloodstream, a journey that oral bacteria can quickly take. If an open wound existed on your skin, infection would be a concern. Gum tissue that bleeds should be looked at no differently. This helps explain why researchers continue to identify oral bacteria deposits in various areas of our bodies.
Diabetes and other auto-immune disorders lower the body’s ability to fight infection, allowing uncontrolled gum disease to advance faster and with more destruction. Research also confirms that the inflammation in the mouth can aggravate diabetes, making it harder to control. This two-way relationship between two chronic conditions emphasizes the importance of optimal oral health.
Why Periodontal Treatment is Important?
Your gums and the bone around your teeth work like the foundation of a house; without a solid base, everything else falls apart. Gum disease sneaks up quietly, often causing serious damage before you feel any pain or notice symptoms. By the time teeth start feeling loose, you may have already lost more than half the bone supporting them, and that bone never grows back. Left untreated, periodontal disease leads to tooth loss and can even affect your overall health. Research shows oral bacteria from infected gums can travel through your bloodstream and contribute to heart disease, stroke, diabetes complications, and other serious conditions. Getting treatment now protects not just your smile but your overall health for years to come.
Why Choose Baldwin Distinctive Dentistry in Las Vegas, NV for Periodontal Therapy?
Managing gum disease takes expertise, patience, and a team that genuinely cares about your long-term oral health. At Baldwin Distinctive Dentistry in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Baldwin and our skilled hygiene team use thorough diagnostics to understand exactly what’s happening with your gums and bone. We don’t just treat symptoms or provide dental implants with our implant dentistry program.
Our periodontists in Las Vegas NV, will create personalized treatment plans based on your specific condition and lifestyle. We customize your maintenance schedule to fit your needs, whether that’s two, three, or four visits per year. Throughout your treatment, we explain everything in plain language so you understand what’s happening and why each step matters.
Schedule an Appointment for Periodontal Therapy today!
If you’ve noticed bleeding gums, bad breath that won’t go away, or if it’s been a while since your last dental cleaning, now’s the time to take action. Baldwin Distinctive Dentistry in Las Vegas, NV offers comprehensive periodontal therapy designed to stop gum disease in its tracks and protect your teeth for years to come.
Our experienced Las Vegas, NV team will assess your gum health, explain your treatment options clearly, and work with you to develop a plan that fits your schedule and budget.
Contact our office today to schedule your periodontal evaluation. If you’re in Las Vegas, NV, we’ll help you take control of your gum health with compassionate care and proven treatment strategies that deliver real results you can see and feel.
