Periodontal diseases are pretty serious oral diseases, like gingivitis and periodontitis that attack your gums. If left untreated, these periodontal diseases can spread to other areas of the mouth and lead to the loss of tooth or teeth.
Periodontal disease is chronic bacterial infection and affects both the gums and the bone that supports the tooth. It first begins with the presence of bacteria in the plaque, which causes the gum to experience some amount of inflammation.
Periodontal diseases vary in degree of seriousness. The mildest form of periodontal disease is gingivitis. This is a very common problem caused by poor or inadequate oral hygiene, and it is characterized by gums that appear red and swollen. People suffering from gingivitis generally have bad breath and experience bleeding when their gums come in contact with any invading substance, including toothbrush bristles.
Periodontitis, however, develops when plaque starts to spread below the gum line and the toxins produced by the plaque bacteria infect the gums. These toxins work to stimulate a chronic inflammatory response and eventually the tissues and the bone supporting your teeth are destroyed. Pockets may be formed around your teeth and gums making periodontitis rapidly progresses. People with periodontitis experience mild symptoms but pretty soon, pain sets in and tooth or teeth loss takes place.
There are times periodontal disease is spotted late and progress. When tooth or teeth loss has already occurred, the typical concern of patients is to get replacements. Dental implants are usually recommended. In this regard, bone grafting is often resorted to.
Dental bone grafting is a dental surgical procedure that involves the replacement of missing bone with material from the body of the patient. Dental implants support the presence of bones underneath them. Bones also work to integrate dental implants properly and conveniently into the mouth.
Bone grafts for dental implants are usually taken from the chin or from the implants’ pilot holes. Sometimes, they are taken right from the iliac crest of the pelvis and reshaped in order to fit into the mouth underneath another implant. Generally, bone grafts are also used for correcting a defect and for easy adaptation. Either way, tooth or teeth loss caused by a highly progressed periodontal disease can be fixed by bone grafting.
