There is a common misconception that gum disease in Naperville only affects a person’s teeth and gums. While it does, it also leads to serious issues involving facial shape and overall health. When left untreated, the infection can spread, resulting in significant bone and tooth loss that impacts the way a person’s face may appear.
From Gingivitis to Periodontitis
Gum disease in its earliest stages is known as gingivitis. The symptoms are reversible when proper oral hygiene habits occur at home and frequent checkups and cleanings are conducted. However, if left untreated, it can quickly advance from slight gum bleeding and inflammation to bad breath, loose teeth, gum recession, and eventual bone loss.
Once a patient begins to suffer from advanced periodontitis, the problem is no longer reversible or curable. It can only be managed. The infection attacks the teeth and bone tissues, causing them to loosen and deteriorate over time. Eventually, teeth fall out and bacteria can enter the bloodstream, resulting in serious overall health problems.
How Tooth Loss Can Change a Person’s Facial Shape
Once an individual begins to lose teeth because of gum disease, it can change the way their face looks and functions. The jawbone serves as a foundation for teeth, helping individuals maintain a stronger and more youthful appearance. However, once the bone starts to weaken because of a continuous infection, teeth will fall out.
Patients may not notice a dramatic difference if dealing with only one missing tooth yet when multiples no longer hold their position, the common consequence is referred to as “facial sagging” or “facial collapse.”
Without teeth roots to stabilize and stimulate the jawbone (through chewing and eating), the bone will continue to deteriorate, giving the facial structure no support.
A person’s chin position, facial angle and height, jowls, lips, and bite are all negatively impacted. Without a complete set of teeth, their ability to speak, smile, and chew become quite challenging.
The only way to address this problem is with gum disease treatment and tooth replacements. Using scaling and root planing, soft tissue laser dentistry, or another advanced procedure, a periodontist in Naperville can improve gum health before discussing appropriate ways to replace missing teeth. These can include dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants.
Individuals who want to avoid the potential for a changing facial shape must adhere to a good oral hygiene routine at home as well as commit to seeing a dentist every six months for regular checkups and cleanings. However, should a problem develop, and teeth are lost, effective treatment and solutions are available to restore a person’s smile.
About the Practice
At Grand Dental – Naperville, our team of specialists includes a skilled periodontist that always takes the time to fully illustrate the procedures he recommends; this allows our patients to make informed decisions about their periodontal care. We offer a variety of periodontal treatments in-house; in addition to traditional scaling and root planing, we can also remove infected tissue with our soft-tissue laser or perform gum grafts to reverse gum recession. To schedule a periodontal appointment, visit our website or call (630) 576-9970.