2425 Military Bldg. 3
Port Huron, MI 48060
(810) 985-6600
Our Blog
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- celebrity smiles (46)
- oral health (13)
- oral hygiene (15)
- mouthrinse (1)
- orthodontic treatment (5)
- braces (5)
- bleeding gums (1)
- periodontal disease (10)
- gum disease (26)
- oral cancer (3)
- dental exam (1)
- dental implants (4)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- medications (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- mouthguards (2)
- tooth grinding (1)
- tooth decay (3)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- birth control (1)
- bonding (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (4)
- canker sore (1)
- muscle frenum (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- loose teeth (2)
- pediatric dentistry (1)
- orthodontics (2)
- saliva (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- flossing (2)
- gummy smiles (1)
- retainers (1)
- dental erosion (1)
- crowns (2)
- gum recession (5)
- chipped teeth (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- diabetes (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental injury (5)
- oral surgery (1)
- lichen planus (1)
- laser dentistry (3)
- dental cleaning (1)
- root planing (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- periodontal surgery (1)
- teeth whitening (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- veneers (1)
- aspirin (1)
- toothpaste (1)
- bone grafting (1)
- tooth pain (1)
- ibuprofen (1)
- pain management (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- medicine (2)
- chipped tooth (1)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- root canal treatment (2)
- cracked mouth (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (2)
- x-rays (1)
- bone loss (1)
- dental care (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- extraction (1)
Categories:
Many people learn they have periodontal (gum) disease after noticing gum swelling, soreness or bleeding. But what you can see or feel may be only the tip of the iceberg — the damage may extend much deeper.
Gum disease is caused mainly by dental plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles built up on teeth due to ineffective brushing and flossing. Infection of the visible gums is only the beginning — left untreated, it can advance well below the gum line and even infect supporting bone.
One critical concern in this regard is the areas where the roots of a tooth separate from each other, known as furcations. Here an infection known as a furcation invasion can cause the bone to weaken and dissolve.
This usually occurs in stages (or classes) we can detect through manual probing and/or with x-rays. In the earliest stage, Class I, we might only notice a slight pocket in the gums with no significant bone loss. In Class II, though, the pocket between the roots has become a horizontal opening of two or more millimeters, indicating definite bone loss with increased pocket depth getting “under” the crown of the tooth. Class III, the last and most serious stage, describes an opening we can probe under the crown all the way to the other side of the tooth; the bone loss now extends “through and through” the furcation.
The basic goal of gum disease treatment is to remove plaque and calculus (tartar) from all tooth and gum surfaces. But removing plaque below the gum line, especially “into” the furcations, can be challenging. We will need instruments called scalers to clean root surfaces, assisted sometimes by ultrasonic equipment to vibrate plaque loose. With furcations we may also need to employ surgery to aid gum or bone tissue regeneration or to make the area easier to access for future cleaning.
Of course, the best way to protect against furcation invasions is to prevent gum disease in the first place. Be sure to brush and floss daily and visit us for thorough dental cleanings and checkups at least every six months.
And don’t delay contacting us if you see any signs of teeth or gum problems. The sooner we can identify gum disease, the more likely we’ll be able to prevent it from doing serious damage to your gums, bone and teeth.
If you would like more information on treating gum disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “What are Furcations?”