Why is periodontal disease so prevelant?

One of the major reasons periodontal disease is so prevalent is that it is usually asymptomatic until advanced progression. Periodontal diseases are painless until their advanced stages.

Unfortunately, the "warning signs" of periodontal disease, such as bad breath, red, swollen, bleeding gums, and loose teeth are usually in the moderate to advanced stages of the disease. Left untreated, periodontal disease will eventually lead to tooth loss.

In fact, periodontal disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

Despite the amount of people with periodontal disease, most believe they don't have it. In a recent survey, eight out of ten Americans did not feel that they had gum problems, but seven out of ten did, in fact, have periodontal disease.

No one likes going to the doctor if they don't have to, and we have all been conditioned to the concept of "if it doesn't hurt, it can't be that bad", but the take home message with periodontal disease is: Don't wait until it hurts!

See your dentist and if you are told you have gum problems, do something about it before it gets out of hand. The earlier you address and treat periodontal disease, the better!



Chesapeake Center for Periodontics & Implant Dentistry
will address your periodontal concerns and work with you and your dentist
to ensure optimal oral health for a lifetime!