Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Periodontal Disease and your health!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

We often hear some interesting comments while we are providing our patients with a comprehensive examination. One of the more important aspects of the examination is examining the periodontium, the gums and structures that support our teeth. Unlike a cavity in a tooth, periodontal disease doesn’t hurt until late in the development of the disease. That why it is important to assess the health of your gums on an annual basis.

What are some of the signs of periodontal disease? Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss? Do you notice that you always have bad breath? Are your gums red, puffy or swollen? Are any of your teeth loose? Are your teeth temperature sensitive? If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may indeed be living with periodontal disease.

What should you expect as part of your periodontal examination? Most importantly is periodontal probings. This is when we recite a series of number, 1-10. The lower the number, the healthier that particular area of your gums are. Ideally, we want to hear 1-3! Anything 4 or above indicates some degree of periodontal disease. It never ceases to amaze me how many patients tell us that they have never had periodontal probing before. This is a procedure that should be performed on an annual basis to monitor the health of the periodontium.

Your health of your gums goes well beyond your teeth. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. If you have any questions regarding your periodontal health, please do not hesitate to call us for an appointment at 561-394-9000. We will arrange to provide you with an examination to get you on your way to the healthiest you can be!

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.