What is advanced periodontitis?

Periodontitis refers to advanced periodontal disease. With periodontitis, the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, creating pockets where additional bacteria can build up and cause an infection. Treatment of advanced periodontal disease is a multi-step process.

What is considered advanced periodontal disease?

Advanced Periodontal Disease: The final stage of periodontal disease is when the infection has evolved into disease-causing bacteria. It can cause redness, swollen gums that ooze pus, sensitivity, loosening of teeth, painful chewing, severe bad breath, and bone loss.

Can advanced periodontitis be cured?

Periodontitis can only be treated but cannot be cured. Gingivitis, on the other hand, can be prevented by maintaining proper oral hygiene practices and visiting the dentist for checkups and exams.

What happens if you have advanced periodontitis?

Advanced Periodontal Disease: The final stage of periodontal disease is when the infection contains disease-causing bacteria. This causes red, swollen gums that contain pus, loose teeth, painful chewing and biting, severe bad breath, and bone loss.

What can be done for advanced periodontal disease?

If you have advanced periodontitis, treatment may require dental surgery, such as: Flap surgery (pocket reduction surgery). Your periodontist makes tiny incisions in your gum so that a section of gum tissue can be lifted back, exposing the roots for more effective scaling and root planing.

Identifying Advanced Periodontitis

What is Stage 4 periodontal disease?

In stage four the periodontal disease has taken a firm hold. Your gums will be visibly receding, exposing tender tooth enamel which can be easily damaged and then start to decay. The hidden damage to your jawbone will start to become noticeable as your teeth start to loosen, becoming wobbly or even moving position.

How common is advanced periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease affects 50% of all Americans age 30 and older. It can result in tooth loss, the need for dentures, and an array of additional health issues. Because of its potential severity, it is important that it is treated seriously, despite how common the disease is reported to be.

Will I lose my teeth if I have periodontal disease?

Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that can lead to tooth loss and other serious health complications. Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

How quickly does periodontitis progress?

Slight Periodontal Disease

During the early gingivitis stages, gum inflammation can occur in as little as five days. Within two to three weeks, the signs of generalized gingivitis become more noticeable. If you still leave this untreated, it would progress to slight periodontal disease.

Can teeth be saved with periodontal disease?

Saving teeth from periodontal disease is possible if you detect the signs and symptoms early or regularly visit your dentist for cleanings and exams. Let the condition progress unhindered, and tooth loss should be considered as an eventuality.

Is aggressive periodontitis painful?

The bacterial inflammation causes teeth to lose support. Eventually the teeth will become loose and fall out. Sometimes the infection becomes so severe that it can cause a tooth abscess. This can be quite painful.

What does periodontal pain feel like?

Periodontal abscesses usually occur in areas with periodontal pockets, in which deep spaces are generated around the teeth. They cause a dull, gnawing, localized pain but are not painful to percussion. The discomfort ranges from low intensity aches to severe acute pain.

What is the main cause of periodontal disease?

Overview. Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It's typically caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—to build up on the teeth and harden.

Can Stage 4 periodontal disease be reversed?

Reversing Gum Disease

Periodontitis can't be reversed, only slowed down, while gingivitis can be reversed. This is why it's important to catch it in its early stages and prevent it from moving on to periodontitis.

What is Stage 3 periodontal?

Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis

In this final stage, periodontitis has been left untreated and has become advanced periodontitis. Bacteria that was allowed to grow, spread, and cause destruction has destroyed the connective tissues and bones that support the teeth.

Can periodontitis be stopped?

Periodontitis can be stopped if caught and treated early enough. Treatment is typically very successful. If you have periodontitis, regular follow-ups with a dentist are essential to ensure that the disease doesn't continue.

What are the stages of periodontal disease?

Do periodontal pockets heal?

Periodontal pockets are a symptom of periodontitis (gum disease), a serious oral infection. Periodontal pockets can be treated and reversed with good oral hygiene or with dental treatment.

How much does it cost to treat periodontal disease?

Periodontal Disease treatment cost ranges from $1,700 - $8,000, and teeth extractions average $200.00-$300.00 per tooth. The first treatment option is root scaling and planning. If this is not effective, surgery is needed, potentially using pocket reduction and bone grafting.

Which mouthwash is best for periodontal disease?

How long does it take to recover from periodontal surgery?

You can expect your gums to take up to two weeks to heal fully, so during this time it's crucial that you follow your doctor's directions. You'll be able to go home after the procedure, but depending on the type of anesthetic your periodontist uses, you may need to have someone drive you home.

Can periodontal disease make you sick?

Fever, Chills, Bleeding Gums: Potential Periodontal Disease. As we mentioned when discussing dental abscesses, oral infections can present with flu-like symptoms. This holds true when you experience periodontal disease, also called gum disease.

What are the symptoms of a tooth infection spreading?

How deep can periodontal pockets get?

With proper treatment and preventive care, most people only see periodontal pocket depths between 4mm and 6mm. In extreme cases where gum disease is left untreated, periodontal pocket depts can reach 10mm or deeper, and at this point, the damage will likely need to be repaired with surgical grafting procedures.

Can gums recover from periodontal disease?

The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.