New Patients (609) 818-9797

Current Patients (609) 818-9797

7 Tree Farm Road, Suite 200 Pennington, NJ 08534

Gum Health Is Important Too

Did you know that gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults? Properly caring for your gums is essential for having strong, healthy teeth.

Pennington dentist Dr. Vagnozzi-Bucci and her staff keep this fact in mind with every routine dental visit and are committed to making sure that your gums stay as healthy as possible with a periodontal screening.

In order to avoid periodontal (gum) problems, it is important to know a little bit about gum disease and its presentations.

Stages of Gum Disease

Early stage gum disease is called gingivitis and is fairly common, even in younger patients. Gingivitis can cause red, swollen gums that are painful to brush and floss and often bleed during dental visits. The inflammation in gingivitis is caused by plaque and calculus that build up under the gums. Thankfully, early stage gum disease is reversible and can be treated through routine dental visits and diligent brushing and flossing at home. However, once gingivitis progresses into late-stage periodontitis, the effects are no longer reversible.

Late-stage gum disease, or periodontitis, occurs when plaque bacteria progress deep into the gums and cause resorption of bone in your jaws. This bone resorption, if left untreated, can cause loss of tooth attachment and thus, tooth loss. Periodontitis can occur in addition to red, swollen gums or can occur with seemingly healthy gums. Late-stage gum disease with attachment loss also occurs without pain; for this reason, it is important to follow up with your dentist regularly and be screened for periodontitis.

Periodontal screening is a simple procedure in which a dentist or hygienist uses a probing instrument to measure the distance between the bone of your jaw and your gums. A measurement of 3 mm or less is considered healthy, whereas a measurement greater than 4mm signifies bone loss and may require more rigorous treatment with our periodontist, Dr. David Heering.

Tooth loss due to gum disease is a scary thought, but luckily, it can be completely avoided through proper dental hygiene. If you have any questions about periodontal disease, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist at Family and Spa Dentistry in Pennington during your next visit!