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Periodontal disease

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of periodontal disease.

Alternative Names

Gingivitis

Symptoms

In general, symptoms progress over time and include:

• Red and Swollen Gums
• Gum Bleeding. Bleeding of the gums, even during brushing, is a sign of inflammation and the major marker of periodontal disease. One exception is juvenile periodontitis, in which symptoms are mild or even absent. It should be noted that the gums of smokers with periodontal disease tend to bleed less than nonsmokers.
• Bad Breath. Debris and bacteria can cause a bad taste in the mouth and persistent bad breath.
• Gum Recession and Loose Teeth. As the disease advances the gums recede, and supporting structure of bone is lost. Teeth loosen, sometimes causing a change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together when biting down or a change in the fit of partial dentures.

• Abscesses. Deepening periodontal pockets between the gums and bone can become blocked by tartar or food particles. Infection-fighting white blood cells become trapped and die. Pus forms and an abscess develops. Abscesses can destroy both gum and tooth tissue, cause nearby teeth to become loose and painful, and may cause fever and swollen lymph nodes.

Pain is usually not a symptom, which partly explains why the disease may become advanced before treatment is sought and why some patients avoid treatment even after periodontitis is diagnosed.

• Review Date: 11/10/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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