When you build a house, you don’t start with the roof, do you? If you answered yes, you should probably stop reading this now and attend to your pressing home repair conundrum. A smart contractor will tell you that every successful project begins with a strong foundation. The base of a statue, the ground floor of a skyscraper, the refried beans of a seven-layer dip – these are the bedrocks on which excellence can thrive.
And the same is true of your mouth. Understanding and caring for your oral health begins well below the tips of your teeth. Let’s go a bit deeper and explore the realm of the periodontist and why you should never ignore gum pain.
Gum Control
Have you ever finished brushing your teeth and seen blood in the sink? The crimson sight is enough to drive you straight to the dentist, right? Well, you may want to take a detour and consult a periodontist instead.
Gum disease (or periodontitis) affects almost half of Americans over the age of 30. The condition manifests itself in a myriad of ways, so check yourself for one or more of the following symptoms:
• New or unusual spaces between your teeth
• Tender gum pain
• Loosening teeth
• Pus or discharge at the gum line
• Bad breath
A dentist can help with routine tooth extraction and cleanings, but this might aggravate the root of the problem. Your periodontist examines your gums and conducts deep pocket cleanings and soft tissue removal (if necessary).
Ignoring your gum pain is not a solution to oral health issues. Advanced periodontitis can lead to severe health problems. If gone unchecked, the bacteria from your gums could enter your bloodstream and travel to your heart, lungs, and arteries. Hence, it can cause asthma attacks, diabetic complications, and even stroke. Periodontics is the health discipline that works to prevent such calamities from occurring by going “beneath the teeth” and delving further into your complex medical situation.
Throw Me a Bone
Your teeth are merely outcroppings of a larger system of bones. Dentistry cares for these outcroppings, but periodontics consider the larger picture. When a root canal just doesn’t do the trick, it’s necessary for more holistic measures.
If periodontitis has destroyed a particular tooth all the way down to the jaw, it may be necessary for a rescue mission. That takes the form of bone grafting, a procedure that replaces the decayed material with healthy bone. The replacement bio-matter may be harvested from other parts of your skeletal system or it might consist of synthetic bone. Also, bone grafts could rely on material donated from another patient.
To discourage further decay, periodontists also perform a service called root planing. This entails smoothing the root of an affected tooth to prevent the buildup of tartar.
We’re All In It Together
Whether you choose a dentist or a periodontist, the most important point is that you must consult a trained professional if you are experiencing gum pain or discomfort. To remedy any gum, jaw, or mouth issues, please contact the offices of David S. Kao, DDS.
