When gum disease or gingivitis is not treated in time, it progresses to the second stage of gum disease in a small group of people. This second stage is called periodontitis. In periodontitis, fibers and jawbone are also damaged by the inflammation. This damage cannot be repaired, which is why it is so important to treat gum disease on time and prevent worse.

How does periodontitis develop?
With gum disease, the space between your gums and your teeth gets bigger and deeper. This space is called pockets. Bacteria can penetrate deeper and deeper as these pockets get bigger. There, the bacteria can attack fibers and damage jawbone. As the pockets get deeper, you are unable to remove the bacteria with your toothbrush, toothpicks or interdental brushes. The inflammation continues to spread and you lose even more jawbone. Interestingly, periodontitis almost never causes pain. As a result, you don’t readily notice it yourself. At a more advanced stage, your teeth may loosen. And your teeth become more sensitive to heat and cold as roots become exposed.

Treating Periodontitis
Treatment of periodontitis can stop further deterioration. Treatment depends on the severity of the periodontitis. During a visit to our practice, we measure the depth of the pockets. With this, we determine the degree of periodontitis and advise you on the appropriate treatment.