Periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis or gum disease, is a condition that inflames supporting and surrounding soft tissues of the tooth. This also affects the jawbone when it is at a more severe stage of infection.

The disease begins when a patient has gingivitis and that bacterium continues to infect the gums when toxins in the tooth irritate and inflame the gum tissues. The infection then colonizes in the gum pockets of the tooth, which makes it much harder for Dr. Andrew C. Dreyer, our periodontist, to clean and treat. Once the condition becomes more progressive, it transforms into periodontal disease that eventually leads to the destruction of the connecting tissues and jaw bone. If it is not treated, it will result in teeth drifting, becoming loose, and eventually falling out.

There are different types of periodontal disease that our team at the dental practice of Andrew C. Dreyer, DDS, MS treats. These include the following:

• Chronic Periodontitis: Your teeth might appear like they are lengthening, but that is not true. Your gums are receding from inflammation within the surrounding tissues. This is the most common form of periodontal disease, where gums and teeth begin to detach, and it progressively gets worse.
• Aggressive Periodontitis: This type appears to also cause receding gums, all while destroying the bone. This could be a genetic transfer that is usually apparent in the earlier stages of life than we expect, which could be around ages 35 to 40. This type deals with specific bacteria and usually occurs in a clinically healthy individual.
• Vesiculoulcerative Conditions: This condition, including pemphigus vulgaris, lichen planus, and pemphigold, causes painful swelling and open wounds around the gums.
• Gingival Recession: This is, again, when your gums move away from your teeth, which could be caused from developmental, habitual, and dental diseases.

If you have questions about periodontal disease in Bakersfield, California, call our office today!