Learn about Periodontics and Available Services from Our Falls Church Dentist

Periodontics is the dental specialty that focuses exclusively in the inflammatory disease that breaks down your gums, as well as other supporting structures surrounding your smile. With lack of proper dental care, like daily brushing and flossing, combined with bad habits like tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, and a poor diet, your gums and teeth steadily break down. This results in serious infections and tooth loss, if not properly treated.
 
Below, we will dive deeper with our Falls Church dentists and stress the importance of visiting Peyser Dentistry if you are suffering from gum disease.
 
What is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gum disease. They also specialize in the treatment of dental implants for patients who have been affected by gum disease. This extensive education, typically an additional three years of beyond dental school, allows professionals like Drs. Peyser and Peyser provide patients with periodontitis the dental care they deserve.
 
Our periodontists review information like the patient’s medical and dental history, including any medication that may contribute to gum disease, before assessing the structure of their gums to see if there is any recession. The assessment also includes checking the patient’s bite and to see if there are any loose teeth. We measure the space between the teeth and gums to determine the depth of periodontal pockets, showing us how advanced the gum disease is. X-rays may also be taken so we can see the health of the bone underneath your gum line, both the roots of the teeth and jawbone structure.
 
What is Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is the medical term for gum disease, where the structure of your gums weakens, become inflamed, and unfortunately escalate unless care is received. The cases range from mild gingivitis to severe periodontitis, where tooth loss is more than likely to occur. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and is easily reversible with the proper care from both our team and a routine, at-home regimen. Without addressing this issue, your smile will quickly deteriorate, and the gum disease will take control.
 
What are the Symptoms of Periodontitis?
One important note to remember is gum disease often has a silent approach and many patients do not know they are suffering from periodontitis until it is advanced, more harmful stages. That is why it is crucial to visit our Falls Church dentists routinely – if this is caught early, it can easily be stopped.
 
Here are the common warning signs of gum disease:
• Red, tender, and swollen gums
• Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating tough food
• Receding gums that cause the teeth to look longer than before
• Loose or separating teeth
• Pus between your gums and teeth
• Sores in your mouth and on your gums
• Persistent bad breath
 
What are the Risk Factors of Gum Disease?
While plaque is the main cause of periodontitis, there are other contributors that enhance the damages of gum disease, depending on the patient.
 
• Age: Older patients have a higher risk of gum disease. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 70% of Americans ages 65 and older have periodontitis.
 
• Tobacco Use: There are numerous dental risks if patients smoke cigarettes or partake in other tobacco products, but gum disease is one of the most significant risk factors. Tobacco use is also linked with other illnesses like cancer, lung and heart disease.
 
• Stress: If you’re suffering from consistent stress, your body has a harder time fighting off infections, including gum disease.
 
• Poor Nutrition: If your diet is lacking the important, beneficial nutrients like fruits, vegetables, essential vitamins and proteins, your smile is likely to suffer, as well. Because gum disease is an infection, your gums are not able to fight back against it, increasing your risk.
 
Gum disease, while one of the most common dental issues across the world, is also the most preventable. Keeping up with your routine checkups with our Falls Church dentists will ensure our patients a happy and healthy smile. Call Peyser Dentistry at (703) 893-3333 for more information or to request an appointment.
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