Periodontitis

Periodontitis is inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.

Causes 

Periodontitis occurs when inflammation or infection of the gums (gingivitis) is untreated or treatment is delayed. Infection and inflammation spreads from the gums (gingiva) to the ligaments and bone that support the teeth. Loss of support causes the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Periodontitis is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults. This disorder is uncommon in childhood but increases during adolescence.

Plaque and tartar accumulate at the base of the teeth. Inflammation causes a pocket to develop between the gums and the teeth, which fills with plaque and tartar. Soft tissue swelling traps the plaque in the pocket. Continued inflammation eventually causes destruction of the tissues and bone surrounding the tooth. Because plaque contains bacteria, infection is likely and a tooth abscess may also develop, which increases the rate of bone destruction.

Symptoms 

• Breath odor
• Gums that appear bright red or red-purple
• Gums that appear shiny
• Gums that bleed easily (blood on toothbrush even with gentle brushing of the teeth)
• Gums that are tender when touched but are painless otherwise
• Loose teeth
• Swollen gums

Note: Early symptoms resemble gingivitis.

Exams and Tests 

Examination of the mouth and teeth by the dentist shows soft, swollen, red-purple gums. Deposits of plaque and calculus may be visible at the base of the teeth, with enlarged pockets in the gums. The gums are usually painless or mildly tender, unless a tooth abscess is also present. Teeth may be loose and gums may be receded.

Dental x-rays reveal the loss of supporting bone and may also show the presence of plaque deposits under the gums.

Treatment 

The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation, eliminate pockets if present, and address any underlying causes. Rough surfaces of teeth or dental appliances should be repaired. General illness or other conditions should be treated.

It is important to have the teeth cleaned thoroughly. This may involve use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth (scaling). Meticulous home oral hygiene is necessary after professional tooth cleaning to limit further destruction. The dentist or hygienist will demonstrate brushing and flossing techniques. It is often recommended that patients with periodontitis have professional tooth cleaning more frequently than twice a year.

Surgery may be necessary. Deep pockets in the gums may need to be opened and cleaned. Loose teeth may need to be supported. Your dentist may need to remove a tooth or teeth so that the problem doesn't get worse and spread to nearby teeth.

Outlook (Prognosis) 

Some people find the removal of dental plaque from inflamed gums to be uncomfortable. Bleeding and tenderness of the gums should go away within 1 or 2 weeks of treatment. (Healthy gums are pink and firm in appearance.)

You need to follow careful oral hygiene for your entire life or the disorder may return.

Possible Complications 

• Infection or abscess of the soft tissue (facial cellulitis)
• Infection of the jaw bones (osteomyelitis)
• Return of periodontitis
• Tooth abscess
• Tooth loss
• Tooth flaring or shifting
• Trench mouth

If you have any questions, pleased call Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347.

Cold Sores

Image via Wikipedia

Signs and symptoms

Herpes infections often show no symptoms; when symptoms do appear they typically resolve within two weeks. The main symptom of oral infection is inflammation of the mucosa of the cheek and gums—known as acute herpetic gingivostomatitis -- which occurs within 5–10 days of infection. Other symptoms may also develop, including headache, nausea, dizziness and painful ulcers—sometimes confused with canker sores—fever, and sore throat. Primary HSV infection in adolescents frequently manifests as severe pharyngitis with lesions developing on the cheek and gums. Some individuals develop difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) and swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). Primary HSV infections in adults often results in pharyngitis similar to that observed in glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), but gingivostomatitis is less likely.

Recurrent oral infection is more common with HSV-1 infections than with HSV-2. Symptoms typically progress in a series of eight stages:

• 1) Latent (weeks to months incident free): The remission period; After initial infection, the viruses move to sensory nerve ganglia (Trigeminal ganglion), where they reside as life-long, latent viruses. Asymptomatic shedding of contagious virus cells can occur during this stage.
• 2) Prodromal (day 0-1): symptoms often precede a recurrence. Symptoms typically begin with tingling (itching) and reddening of the skin around the infected site. This stage can last from a few days to a few hours preceding the physical manifestation of an infection and is the best time to start treatment.
• 3) Inflammation (day 1): Virus begins reproducing and infecting cells at the end of the nerve. The healthy cells react to the invasion with swelling and redness displayed as symptoms of infection.
• 4) Pre- Sore (day 2-3): This stage is defined by the appearance of tiny, hard, inflamed papules and vesicles which may itch and are painfully sensitive to touch. Eventually, these fluid-filled blisters form a cluster either on the lip (labial) tissue, the area between the lip and skin (vermilion border), and can occur on the nose, chin, and cheeks.
• 5) Open Lesion (day 4): This is the most painful and contagious of the stages. All the tiny vesicles break open and merge to create one big, open, weeping ulcer. Fluids are slowly discharged from blood vessels and inflamed tissue. This watery discharge is teeming with active viral particles and is highly contagious. Depending on the severity, one may develop a fever and swollen lymph glands under the jaw.
• 6) Crusting (day 5-8): A honey/golden crust starts to form from the syrupy exudate. This yellowish or brown crust or scab is not made of active virus but from blood serum containing useful proteins such as albumin and globulins. This appears as the healing process begins and should not be scraped or picked at. The sore is still painful at this stage but more painful, however, is the constant cracking of the scab as one moves or stretches their lips, as in smiling or eating. Virus filled fluid will still ooze out of the sore through any cracks.
• 7) Healing (day 9-14): New skin begins to form underneath the scab as the virus retreats back into latency. A series of scabs will form over the sore (Called Meier Complex), each one smaller than the last. During this phase irritation, itching, and some pain are common.
• 8) Post scab (2–14 days): A reddish area may linger at the site of viral infection as the destroyed cells are regenerated. Virus shedding can still occur during this stage.^[8]

The recurrent infection is thus often called herpes simplex labialis. Rare reinfections occur inside the mouth (intraoral HSV stomatitis) affecting the gums, alveolar ridge, hard palate, and the back of the tongue, possibly accompanied by herpes labialis.

Herpes labialis infection occurs when the herpes simplex virus comes into contact with oral mucosal tissue or abraded skin of the mouth. Infection by the type 1 strain of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) is most common, though cases of oral infection by the type 2 strain are increasing. Cold sores are the result of the virus reactivating in the body. Once HSV-1 has entered the body, it never leaves. The virus moves from the mouth to quietly reside (“remain latent”) in the central nervous system. In approximately one third of people, the virus can “wake up” or reactivate to cause disease. When reactivation occurs, the virus travels down the nerves to the skin where it may cause blisters (cold sores) around the lips, in the mouth or, in about 10% of cases, on the nose, chin, or cheeks. Cold sore outbreaks may be influenced by stress, menstruation, sunlight, sunburn, fever, or local skin trauma. Surgical procedures such as dental or neural surgery, lip tattooing, or dermabrasion are also common triggers. HSV-1 can rarely be transmitted to newborn babies by family members or hospital staff who have cold sores; this can cause a severe disease called Neonatal herpes simplex. People can transfer the virus from their cold sores to other areas of the body, such as the eye, skin, or fingers; this is called “autoinoculation." Eye infection, in the form of conjunctivitis or keratitis, can happen when you rub the cold sore, then rub your eyes before washing your hands. Finger infection (herpetic whitlow) can occur when a child with cold sores or primary HSV-1 infection sucks his/her fingers. HSV-1 can infect the genital area by engaging in oral sex with a partner with a cold sore.

Treatment

Acidophilus and yogurt, full of lactobacillus, also helps get rid of cold sores more easily. Its cultures can halt a cold sore from growing if taken right when the sore begins to develop. Acyclovir and penciclovir are used, although the shortening of duration of healing, pain and www.wtnperio.comdetectable virus is, at maximum, one day. Both are nucleoside analogues, being purine analogues of guanine. Furthermore, Famciclovir and Docosanol are in use for treatment against Herpes labialis. Laser therapy is a new option: A single 5 minute 1072 nm narrow waveband light application treatment has been shown to significantly reduce cold sore healing time by 4 days.

Lysine has been found to be effective for decreasing the frequency of outbreaks.

Zinc oxide/glycine cream is an effective treatment for facial and circumoral herpes infection. Zinc sulphate appeared to reduce both the number of episodes and the time to recovery of herpes labialis.

For more information on cold sores and how the PerioLase can help, contact Dr. Todd Welch at

West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347.

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Laser Periodontal Therapy

Millenium Laser

No cuts. No sutures.
No fear.

Laser Periodontal Therapy (LPT)

If you have been told you need scalpel and suture gum surgery, there's a laser alternative you need to learn about.

Until now, that surgery meant scalpels and sutures. But Dr. Welch is one of the only periodontists in West Tennessee to offer Laser Periodontal Therapy, a patient-friendly, minimally-invasive procedure that’s a great improvement over standard gum surgery.

In most cases, Dr. Welch's ofice will schedule a complimentary consultation to explain how the laser works and give you a demonstration. Next, they will take X-rays to make a definitive diagnoses and determine the extent of the infection. When you return for your first treatment, you'll receive a local anaesthetic to eliminate any possible discomfort. A general anaesthetic isn't necessary, because Laser Periodontal Therapy is much less traumatic. A tiny laser fiber (about the thickness of three hairs) is inserted between the tooth and the gum, and the infection is cleared away. The procedure is fast: It takes just two 2-hour sessions. Dr. Welch will treat one half of your mouth at each session...and you'll probably feel good enough to go right back to work afterwards.

Why is LPT better for the treatment of gum disease?

Laser is about as easy as erasing a blackboard — there’s no cutting and no suturing.

There's much less discomfort with LPT than with standard surgery — during and after the procedure.

It takes less time than traditional surgery. All it takes is two 2-hour visits to the dentist and two follow up visits. Traditional surgery requires four sessions of about one hour each, with subsequent visits for suture removal and additional check-ups.

LPT gives better, longer-lasting results. In fact, 98% of LPT treated patients remain stable after five years, while only 5% reportedly remain stable after surgery.

Your dentist will probably recommend a soft diet for a day or two, and common sense should prevail, but in most cases, patients feel good enough to eat anything they want right after the procedure.Following traditional surgery, recovery can take between to 2-4 weeks during which patients can experience considerable pain and swelling, where they may be restricted to liquid or soft diets.

There's less than 24 hour recovery period, so you won't lose time from work.

LPT is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, HIV, hemophilia, or those taking medications such as Plavix or aspirin. than with standard surgery — during and after the procedure.www.wtnperio.com

Gum Grafting

Gum Grafting

before

after

Periodontal procedures are available to stop further dental problems and gum recession, and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line.

Exposed tooth roots are the result of gum recession. Perhaps you wish to enhance your smile by covering one or more of these roots that make your teeth appear too long. Or, maybe you're not bothered by the appearance of these areas, but you cringe because the exposed roots are sensitive to hot or cold foods and liquids.

Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including aggressive tooth brushing or periodontal disease. You may not be in control of what caused the recession, but prior to treatment your periodontist can help you identify the factors contributing to the problem. Once these contributing factors are controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure will repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss.

Soft tissue grafts can be used to cover roots or develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. During this procedure, your periodontist takes gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

A soft tissue graft can reduce further recession and bone loss. In some cases, it can cover exposed roots to protect them from decay. This may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve esthetics of your smile. Whether you have a soft tissue graft to improve function or esthetics, patients often receive the benefits of both: a beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health – your keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.

For more information please contact Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347.

What's the Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis?

What's the Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis?

Gingivitis (gum inflammation) usually precedes periodontitis (gum disease). However, it is important to know that not all gingivitis progresses to periodontitis.

In the early stage of gingivitis, bacteria in plaque build up, causes the gums to become inflamed (red and swollen) and often easily bleed during tooth brushing. Although the gums may be irritated, the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. No irreversible bone or other tissue damage has occurred at this stage.

When gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to periodontitis. In a person with periodontitis, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth and form pockets. These small spaces between teeth and gums collect debris and can become infected. The body's immune system fights the bacteria as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line.

Toxins or poisons -- produced by the bacteria in plaque as well as the body's "good" enzymes involved in fighting infections -- start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. When this happens, teeth are no longer anchored in place, they become loose and tooth loss occurs. Gum disease, in fact, is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr.Todd Welch with West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347.

Dental Implants Minimize Bone Loss

Placement of Dental Implants Results in Minimal Bone Loss

Five-year follow-up study observed marginal bone remodeling occurs between implant placement and prosthesis placement.

CHICAGO—May 11, 2009—Dental implants are frequently used as a replacement for missing teeth in order to restore the patient’s tooth function and appearance. Previous research demonstrates that the placement of a dental implant disrupts the host tissue in the area of the implant, so practitioners often focus their treatment planning to carefully maintain the patient’s bone and gum tissue surrounding the implant. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that the majority of bone remodeling occurred in the time between the implant placement and final prosthesis placement.Study Abstract*

Subsequently, little mean bone change was observed in the five years following the implant placement, independent of type of restoration or implant length. The study, conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, evaluated596 dental implants placed in 192 patients over the age of 18. Patients were screened for adequate oral hygiene and bone volume. Exclusion criteria included heavy smoking, chewing tobacco use, drug abuse, and untreated periodontal disease, amongst others.

Study author Dr. David Cochran, DDS, PhD, Chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and President of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), believes that this study provides additional support for the use of dental implants to replace missing teeth. “As a periodontist, I am committed to saving my patients’ natural dentition whenever possible. However, the results of this study help further indicate that a dental implant is an effective and dependable tooth replacement option. Since the patient’s host tissue surrounding the dental implant largely remains unchanged in the five years following placement, the dental team can now focus on periodic assessment and treatment of other areas in the mouth as needed, and know that the implant is doing its job as a viable substitute solution.”

If you have any questions, please call Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants in Jackson, TN at 731-215-2345.

Dental Implants

 I have partnered with Astra Tech dental implants for use in my practice. Astra Tech is an extremely reliable company with a stable background of 25 years in the industry.  This implant system allows for prosthetic flexibility to create very esthetic final restorations.  Astra Tech is also a leader in the implant industry with volumes of clinical documentation. I feel I am placing the best implant available, which will enable us as a team the ability to provide your patients with the easiest mode of restorability while not sacrificing implant predictability and integration. Astra Tech is a bone level implant, which allows for a broader range of restorative options.  The standard “stock” snap-cap abutment that I am sure you are familiar with will still be available with this system; however, Asta Tech also offers many ways to customize abutments such as utilizing the Atlantis abutment or a Zirconium abutment if the case calls for it.  These costs will not be passed on to your patients and I will always contact you so we can discuss which abutment you prefer or would like for the case.  Please contact Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347.

Green Tea for Healthy Gums

Go Green for Healthy Teeth and Gums

A study suggests that antioxidants in green tea may help reduce periodontal disease.

CHICAGO—March 5, 2009—With origins dating back over 4,000 years, green tea has long been a popular beverage in Asian culture, and is increasingly gaining popularity in the United States. And while ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine believed green tea consumption could cure disease and heal wounds, recent scientific studies are beginning to establish the potential health benefits of drinking green tea, especially in weight loss, heart health, and cancer prevention. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy ofPeriodontology (AAP), uncovered yet another benefit of green tea consumption. Researchers found that routine intake of green tea may also help promote healthy teeth and gums. The study analyzed the periodontal health of 940 men, and found that those who regularly drank green tea had superior periodontal health than subjects that consumed less green tea.

“It has been long speculated that green tea possesses a host of health benefits,” said study author Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. “And since many of us enjoy green tea on a regular basis, my colleagues and I were eager to investigate the impact of green tea consumption on periodontal health, especially considering the escalating emphasis on the connection between periodontal health and overall health.”

Male participants aged 49 through 59 were examined on three indicators of periodontal disease: periodontal pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) of gum tissue, and bleeding on probing (BOP) of the gum tissue. Researchers observed that for every one cup of green tea consumed per day, there was a decrease in all three indicators, therefore signifying a lower instance of periodontal disease in those subjects who regularly drank green tea.

Green tea’s ability to help reduce symptoms of periodontal disease may be due to the presence of the antioxidant catechin. Previous research has demonstrated antioxidants’ ability to reduce inflammation in the body, and the indicators of periodontal disease measured in this study, PD, CAL and BOP, suggest the existence of an inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria in the mouth. By interfering with the body’s inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria, green tea may actually help promote periodontal health, and ward off further disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, and has been associated with the progression of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

“Periodontists believe that maintaining healthy gums is absolutely critical to maintaining a healthy body,” says Dr. David Cochran, DDS, PhD, President of the AAP and Chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “That is why it is so important to find simple ways to boost periodontal health, such as regularly drinking green tea—something already known to possess certain health-related benefits.”

If you have any questions please contact Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347

Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP)

How the LANAP Protocol Works:

First, the patient is profoundly anesthetized with local anesthetic. Next, the patient’s pocket depths are probed down to the level of intra-osseous defects (bone sounding). The thin optic fiber is placed parallel to the root surface.. The first pass with the laser, called laser troughing, is accomplished with the short duration pulse. The free running pulsed Nd:YAG laser is combined with systemic antibiotics to achieve the optimal reduction of microbiotic pathogens (antisepsis) within the periodontal sulcus and surrounding tissues. Perio pathogens and pathologic proteins are selectively destroyed by the laser’s light energy, providing an aseptic surgical environment that allows healing following the laser hemostasis step.

The technique uses selective photothermolysis to remove the diseased, infected and inflamed pocket epithelium while preserving healthy connective tissue, literally separating the tissue layers at the level of the reté pegs and ridges. The practitioner is able to achieve both precise tissue ablation and aseptic hemostasis by varying the laser’s energy density, pulse duration and rate of repetition. The laser assists in the destruction of perio pathogens while preserving the healthy tissue.

The tenacity of the calcified plaque and calculus adherent to the root surface is modified by the laser energy so its removal with an ultrasonic scaler is more easily accomplished.

At this point, a second pass with the laser is taken to finish debriding the pocket and achieve hemostasis with a thermal fibrin clot. Gingival tissue is compressed against the root surface as necessary to close the pocket and aid with formation and stabilization of the fibrin clot. No sutures or surgical glue is needed. Mobile teeth above class II mobility are splinted. Occlusal adjustments are performed to remove interferences, minimize trauma, and provide balance to long axis forces and are considered an essential component of the LANAP protocol.

Finally, post-operative instructions specific to the LANAP protocol, diet guidelines and oral hygiene instructions are explained and their importance is stressed, and continued periodontal maintenance is scheduled. Patients are monitored at one week, 30 days and then every 3 months for periodontal maintenance. No subsequent probing is performed for at least nine months to a year to allow sufficient healing time for the cementum-fiber PDL interface.

For more information please contact Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347

Gum Disease Myths

1. Bleeding gums are not that big of a deal.
   Red, swollen and bleeding gums are an important sign of periodontal disease. If you notice bleeding while brushing or flossing, or when eating certain foods, you should schedule a visit with your dental professional to be evaluated for periodontal disease. Studies have shown that in addition to tooth loss, gum disease may contribute to the progression of other diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, so it is important that you begin treating periodontal disease as soon as possible.



2. You don’t need to floss every day.
   Routine oral care, which includes brushing after every meal and before bedtime, and flossing at least once a day, is the best way to prevent gum disease. However, a recent survey estimates that only 13.5 percent of Americans floss each day. It is vital that you keep up with your daily oral care, and see a dental professional for a thorough check-up twice a year. If gum disease is diagnosed, a consultation with a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating periodontal disease, may be beneficial.



3. A visit to the periodontist will be scary.
   Periodontists are gum disease experts. They have received three or more years of specialized training following dental school centered on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of periodontal disease. Periodontists are equipped with the latest treatments and technologies, using innovative tools such as digital radiography, ultrasound technology, biomarker measurement and laser therapy to help make your visit more comfortable.



4. A tooth lost to gum disease is a tooth lost forever.
   Gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. However, in addition to treating gum disease, periodontists are also experts in placing dental implants – a convenient and comfortable way to permanently replace missing teeth. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth. Studies have shown that dental implants have a 98 percent success rate, and with proper care, allow you to speak, eat and smile with confidence. In fact, a survey conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology found that over70 percent of respondents reported being “pleased” or “extremely satisfied” with the results of their dental implants.



5. Poor oral hygiene is the only way to develop gum disease.
   Forgoing good oral hygiene can certainly contribute to the progression of gum disease, but there are a variety of other factors that can also impact your risk. For instance, tobacco use has been shown to greatly increase your chance of developing gum disease. Stress, poor diet, and even genetics, can also play a role in the health of your gums. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants in Jackson, TN at 731-215-2347.

Targeting Tobacco Use

You are probably aware of the devastating effects that smoking and tobacco use can have on your heart, lungs, and other organs. However, you might not be familiar with the whole other “mouthful” of problems caused by tobacco use. For example, tobacco use is a significant risk factor in the development and progression of periodontal disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. The sooner you take aim at your tobacco use and quit, the closer you will be to healthy teeth and gums!

Tobacco users are more likely to have calculus, dental plaque that hardens on your teeth and can only be removed during professional cleanings. If this calculus is not removed and it remains below the gum line, the bacteria in the calculus will infect the gums causing redness and swelling, otherwise known as inflammation. This inflammation damages the tissues that support the teeth, including the bone. When this happens, the gums can separate from the teeth, forming pockets. Tobacco users often have deeper pockets than people who do not use tobacco. These pockets can then fill with more bacteria, which leads to more inflammation. If the infected pockets are left untreated, the gums may shrink away from the teeth, making teeth appear longer and possibly causing them to become loose and fall out.

The detection of periodontal disease is often more difficult in tobacco users. This is because the nicotine and other chemicals found in tobacco products can hide the symptoms commonly associated with periodontal disease, such as bleeding

gums. Since the detection of periodontal disease in tobacco users can be difficult, necessary treatment is sometimes delayed.

Treating periodontal disease in tobacco users can be a difficult task, but not an impossible one. Smoking and tobacco use reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the gingival tissues, weakening the body’s defense mechanisms. This can slow down the healing process and make periodontal treatment results less predictable. For example, dental implants that are placed in a tobacco user’s mouth fail more often than they would in a patient who does not use tobacco. Additionally, the actual treatment of periodontal disease can vary widely depending on how far the disease has progressed. If caught in the early stages, simple non- surgical periodontal therapy may be used.

Because the treatment of periodontal diseases can be more difficult in tobacco users, your periodontist will urge you to quit your tobacco use. Quitting seems to gradually erase the harmful effects of tobacco use on periodontal health. One study showed that 11 years after quitting, a former smoker’s likelihood of developing periodontal diseases was not much different from one who had never smoked. And with the increasing amount of research indicating that periodontal health may be related to overall health, reducing your risk of periodontal disease is more important than ever. Start taking aim at quitting your tobacco use today and move one step closer to a lifetime of periodontal health and happy smiles! Please contact Dr. Todd Welch at West Tennessee Periodontics and Dental Implants at 731-215-2347 for more information.