Your smile is one of the first physical things that people you meet will notice. You want your smile to be bright, and dental implants are one way to get it. However, sometimes you may face difficulties with scheduling your implant surgery, especially if you suffer from a form of Periodontal disease.
Understanding what this disease is and how it impacts your surgery could help you save some time money and potential rejection.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that not only destroys your gums but impacts your actual jawbone. Unfortunately, this disease is very common in Americans, with more than 3 million cases seen by specialists per year.
Although it is common, it is a preventable disease and is usually the result of poor oral hygiene. The disease is caused by dental plaque and bacteria that have been built up over time. This disease has possible connections between gum disease and:
- Heart disease,
- Stroke,
- Diabetes,
- Respiratory disease.
These are all very serious health issues that could potentially be avoided through proper oral hygiene.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of Periodontitis start with the bleeding of gums during a regular brushing schedule. As the disease progresses untreated symptoms that will occur include:
- Gums tender to the touch,
- Receding gum lines,
- Pus between the teeth and gums,
- Bad breath,
- Loose teeth,
- Pain when eating
How Does Gum Disease Impact My Tooth Implant Surgery?
Even though most people that suffer from missing teeth are excellent candidates for dental implants, people suffering from gum disease are not always the right subject for this surgery. Teeth implants rely on the implant meeting with the jawbone to help it rest in place. In order for your dental implants to work, there must be strong support given to the remaining teeth that will help to restore your natural bite.
With gum disease, however, this is sometimes not possible. If you have had the disease in the past but have been treated, depending on the outcome of the treatment, you may still be a proper candidate for this type of oral surgery.
Is There Treatment?
Luckily, for most patients, Periodontal disease is treatable. As a patient you must visit your dentist and have the disease controlled. There is not an official cure, but maintenance and therapy through an ongoing program can help keep your condition stable after the initial infection is removed from the area.
Once your case has been treated, stop by your local dental implant specialist and see if there is work that can be done to help keep your mouth and smile formation stable.
Don’t Let Gum Disease Prevent You From Having a FastNewSmile
Even though plaque is an everyday problem, it isn’t something that anyone should leave ignored. Unmanaged plaque can easily lead to gum disease, tooth loss, and bone deterioration. This type of problem could prevent you from getting initial teeth implants.
If you believe that your mouth is healthy enough to withstand dental implant surgery, contact our office today to set up a consultation.