Gum disease is a condition where the body’s response to bacteria in the mouth causes the gum and bone that support the teeth to break down. In severe cases, the destruction of bone causes teeth to loosen, become infected, and eventually fall out.

The term ‘gingivitis’ describes inflammation in the gum tissue around teeth, usually characterized by bleeding, redness, or swelling in the gums. Gingivitis may progress to ‘periodontitis’ as the gum disease extends beyond the gums into the supporting bone around the teeth.

The term ‘periodontitis’ describes gum disease where invasive bacteria and their toxins trigger the destruction of the teeth’s supporting bone, causing the loosening and eventual loss of teeth.

The causes of periodontitis are not fully understood. Periodontitis likely has genetic or hereditary influences that impact the body’s immune system, making people susceptible to virulent bacteria that destroy gum and bone, leading to the loss of teeth. Other factors such as poor oral hygiene, smoking, and diabetes can all contribute to the development and progression of gum disease.

Gum recession describes the loss of gum tissue exposing the roots of teeth. Gum recession can be caused by bacteria and periodontitis as bone is lost around teeth, or may be caused by other things including orthodontic treatment, involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth during sleep (bruxism), or less commonly, overzealous toothbrushing.

Many patients are not even aware that they have gum diseasebecause the symptoms may not be very noticeable. Gum disease symptoms include bleeding or swollen gums, gum recession, bad breath, a bad taste in your mouth, loose teeth, or ill-fitting dentures

Gums may be acutely or chronically inflamed or infected. Signs of gum infection may include bad breath, swollen gums, bleeding or discharge of pus from the gums, and loose teeth. If you suspect you have a gum infection, you should consult with a dentist or gum specialist (periodontist) immediately.

The best way to save your teeth is to visit the office of a dental gum specialist, also known as a periodontist. The periodontist will examine you, take dental x-rays, and perform other tests to make a diagnosis. The gum specialist will then discuss the findings with you and determine what type of gum treatments is best to help save your teeth. If certain teeth cannot be saved, the periodontist will discuss choices that are available to replace failing teeth.

Treatment options for teeth with gum disease include deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, antibiotic medications, and gum surgery. A gum specialist can help you determine which combination of treatment choices are right for you.

Periodontal cleaning involves a special type of cleaning focused on removing plaque, bacterial deposits, tartar, and calculus from below the gum line to treat gum disease. Scaling and root planing is often performed under the supervision of a dental hygienist, and local anesthetics are used to numb the gums and make the for treatment sesssion very comfortable. Most patients need no pain medicine afterwards, but over the counter pain relievers may be necessary for a couple of days in some cases.

Many gum specialists offer their patients effective alternatives to traditional gum surgery including combinations of deep cleaning, laser gum treatment, and targeted antibiotic therapies.

Laser gum surgery is a minimally-invasive technique used by gum specialists (periodontists) to treat gum disease without the cutting and stitching associated with traditional gum surgery. One type of laser gum treatment starts with a numbing injection, and continues with the removal of tartar and bacterial plaque from the teeth roots using piezo cleaning instruments and an erbium laser. A second Nd:YAG laser used afterwards helps decontaminate the gum tissue surrounding the teeth.

First, no doctor can guarantee than any dental or medical treatment will help you obtain a particular result. That being said, laser gum treatment, as part of an in-office program to maintain the health of your gums, is generally quite successful in stabilizing gum disease and helping patients keep their teeth. Teeth with very advanced gum disease however are always more difficult to save. A consultation with a gum specialist (periodontist) is the best way to determine which teeth may be saved, and which teeth should be replaced.

Laser gum treatment is usually a very comfortable treatment method. During the procedure, the gum specialist completely numbs the patient, so there is nothing to feel during the procedure except maybe a little pressure or gentle vibration. After the procedure, patients can take over the counter pain medication, if needed, for any post-operative discomfort. Most patients can return to work and normal activities the very same day, and are surprised that the gum disease treatment experience was so comfortable.

Costs vary depending on 1) the type of doctor performing the procedure (more experiencd specialists command higher professional fees), 2) how many areas of laser gum treatment are needed (patients who complete a deep cleaning program may require less laser treatment and may therefore save on costs), 3) the severity of the gum disease, and 4) your overall dental condition. As a general rule, basic gum treatment programs may begin in the $1000-$1500 range, and treatment of more advanced gum disease may approach $4500-$6500. Dental insurance may sometimes offset a significant portion of these expenses.

Laser gum treatment can be used to treat early, moderate, or severe gum disease for patients of all ages. You do not need to be in perfect health, but your physician must determine that you are able to have basic dental treatments performed. The important thing to note is that laser gum treatment is part of a larger program of continual periodontal maintenance, deep cleanings, and other therapies all designed to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. A consultation with a gum specialist (periodontist) is the best way to determine if laser gum treatment is right for you.

Gum treatment is usually best performed by a specialist, so patients should try to locate a periodontist (gum specialist) in their area. Periodontists have years of experience diagnosing and treating gum disease in various forms and levels of severity. Periodontists also have advanced training in gum surgery, can help determine which teeth can be saved, and are expert at placing dental implants to replace failing teeth.

To a dentist, the term ‘receding gums’ means the loss of gum tissue exposing the roots of one or more teeth, not caused by inflammatory gum disease or by germs. To the average person, ‘receding gums’ can have another meaning: bacteria related gum disease (with gum loss, bone loss, and exposure of the teeth roots).

Receding gums or 'gum recession' describes the loss of gum tissue exposing the roots of teeth. Bacteria and periodontal disease may cause gum recession as the underlying bone is destroyed around teeth. Other causes of receding gums include orthodontic treatment, involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth during sleep (bruxism), or less commonly, overzealous toothbrushing.

Receding gums can often be stabilized, and in some cases improved, if you visit a gum specialist to determine the cause of your recession and get appropriate treatment. Unfortunately, there is no effective home remedy or self-cure for receding gums.

Gum repair may be possible, depending on the cause and severity of the gum problem, but in many cases the goal is to stop the gum recession from getting worse to prevent the loss of your teeth. Each person's situation is very different. Some people have gum recession caused by gum inflammation and infection, others from physical forces such as grinding and clenching at night (bruxism), orthdontic treatment, or less frequently, overzealous toothbrushing.

Treatments for receding gums including deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, antibiotics, periodontal surgery, laser gum treatment, nightguards, gum grafting, and the Chao Pinhole technique. Chao pinhole technique. Only a gum specialist can diagnose your gum issue, and determine which treatment options are right for you.

Gum grafting is a dental procedure performed by a gum specialist to improve the quantity and/or quality of gum tissue in any part of your mouth. Sometimes gum grafting is used to cover exposed tooth to correct gum recession, and other times a periodontist will perform gum grafting to protect the bone surrounding the base of a tooth. Gum tissue can be taken from a donor site in another part of your mouth, or artifical grafting materials can sometimes be used instead.

Sometimes a gum graft is unavoidable. In other cases however, newer techniques such as the Chao Pinhole Method can use your existing gum tissue, withot requiring a gum graft, and reposition your gums to cover the exposed roots of your teeth.

The Chao pinhole method uses surgical instruments placed through tiny holes made under your gumline to loosen your existing gum tissue to reposition it over the roots of teeth with gum recession. This technique is favored by many patients over traditional gum grafting who often consider it less invasive, because there is no scalpel cutting incision needed or multiple stitches used with other techniques. Although it can work very well and provide dramatic results, not every patient is a good candidate for this method.

A periodontist is a specially trained dentist that diagnoses and treats gum disease using principles of dental medicine and surgery. Most periodontists have three additional years of residency training after a four-year doctor of dental medicine program. Gum specialists are trained in the latest minimally-invasive techniques to save teeth, repair gums, perform oral surgery, and place dental implants.

The best way to find a gum specialist (periodontist) near you would be to use an internet search engine, like Google, or consult with a trusted dentist for a recommendation.