Periodontal Disease Periodontal disease is more commonly known as gum disease or gingivitis. This infection is serious enough to lead to tooth loss if left untreated. This chronic infection begins around the tooth and affects the supporting bone and gums. Periodontal disease can affect anywhere from one tooth to all thirty-two teeth. The pathology of the disease begins with plaque that accumulates on the teeth every day. Plaque buildup causes the gums to become red and inflamed. If not properly brushed away, the remaining plaque will also cause your gums to bleed. This stage of periodontal disease is commonly called gingivitis, which literally means "swelling of the gums." There is no real pain associated with gingivitis. It is treatable with good dental cleaning and proper brushing and flossing at home. However, if left untreated, gingivitis can lead to advanced periodontal disease. After a person has had untreated gingivitis for a period of time, plaque begins to grow and spread. It travels below the gum line and the bacteria produces toxins. These toxins irritate the gums and cause the body's natural defenses to kick in. When the inflammatory response has been activated for a while, it causes the breakdown of the tissues that support the teeth and bones. The gums begin to pull away from the tooth and a pocket forms. A pocket is a space between the gums and the teeth. The deeper the pocket (in millimeters), the further the gum is from the tooth, and the more advanced the periodontal disease. The normal pocket depth of a healthy tooth is between one and three millimeters. Gingivitis is 4 millimeters deep. A pocket depth of five or tooth loss is advanced periodontal disease. (I have seen pockets as deep as 12 millimeters) When your dentist checks the depth of your pockets, he runs what is called a periodic chart. Period monitoring should be done annually as a preventative measure for gum disease. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease, but there are many contributing factors. Smoking is one of them. Most people are aware of the dangers of smoking. Not many people are aware that tobacco use significantly increases a person's chance of contracting periodontal disease. Once periodontal disease is diagnosed, a smoker's chances of recovery decrease dramatically. If a smoker recovers from periodontal disease... middle of the paper... an ointment can cost around two hundred dollars. Crown lengthening and tissue grafts can easily cost three times as much. Not to mention the cost of prescriptions and wasted time. Insurance companies will help with selected procedures, but the amount covered varies depending on the plan. The cost of toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and Listerine is significantly cheaper. To avoid treatment costs, you should do everything possible to prevent infection. As a qualified dental assistant for four years, I've seen my share of mouths. When I started this profession I was amazed by how many patients I saw who were educated and wealthy and still had poor hygiene. Nowadays, people may better understand the importance of taking care of their teeth, but there are still many out there who need encouragement. Brushing your teeth in many cases is not enough. Make friends with dental floss too. It may prevent you from getting periodontal disease. If a person has heart and periodontal disease, the risk of death increases significantly. This disease is not something you can forget. It must be taken on.