Periodontal disease is characterized by inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth, including the bone. While periodontal disease can’t be reversed, it can be treated, and it’s possible to prevent periodontal disease from progressing, which helps to preserve the health and strength of the jawbone. Treatment, which can include dental deep cleaning and antibiotic therapies, can decrease the effects of periodontal disease and help prevent them from progressing, though surgery may be needed to restore bone and soft tissue that has already been destroyed by inflammation. This means that it’s often possible to save teeth when bone loss is present, though this may require significant treatments and will often depend on the patient’s ability to observe their dentist’s recommendations for care following treatment.
Of course, the best approach to saving the teeth is by preventing bone loss in the first place, which is best achieved by following an effective oral hygiene routine. Because gum disease can be difficult to detect early on, when it can still be reversed, an effective routine must include regular visits to the dentist, which are integral to early diagnosis. If gum disease is allowed to progress, it develops into periodontal disease, which gradually destroys the oral tissues and results in tooth loss. In turn, tooth loss encourages additional bone loss, as bone that isn’t regularly used is resorbed by the body for use elsewhere.
To determine whether periodontal disease is present and assess its extent, your dentist will review your medical history and take note of certain factors that may encourage gum disease. They will also examine your mouth and teeth, checking for areas of plaque and tartar accumulation and looking for sensitive areas that bleed easily. Using a specialized dental probe, they will also measure the depth of the grooves between the gums and teeth, noting any areas where these grooves are deeper than advised; these periodontal pockets are an indication of periodontal disease. Finally, they will evaluate the structure of the jawbone with x-rays, focusing particularly on areas with excessive pocket depths.
Periodontal disease gradually causes the connective tissues of the mouth to detach from the teeth and compromises the integrity of the bone that supports the teeth, but it can be possible to save the teeth when bone loss is present. Treating periodontal disease is the first step toward saving the teeth, and treatment focuses on cleaning out the periodontal pockets to protect the bone from bacteria and inflammation. Ideally, less invasive treatments are used; these include scaling, root planing, and antibiotics, which are used in conjunction and which aim to remove bacteria from the surfaces of the teeth both below and above the gumline and to prevent bacterial accumulation from returning.
For cases of more advanced periodontitis, surgical methods might be needed in order to save the teeth and restore the oral cavity to health. These methods could include flap surgery, soft tissue grafts, bone grafts, and guided tissue regeneration therapies, all of which aim to restore the oral tissues and provide more stable support for the teeth. Maintaining the stability of these restorative efforts requires adopting healthier habits, which is a small step patients can take to help save the teeth when bone loss is present.