75% of all adult tooth loss is due to periodontal disease. When your gums and
bone are damaged by periodontal infection, there is less support for your teeth.
As this support disappears, your teeth first become loose and then can be lost.
When periodontal treatment is recommended, it is important to get started right
away.
If the infection continues, you can start to lose your teeth one at a time.
These lost teeth will have to be replaced with dental work, such as:
 Bridges
Dental Implants
Partial Dentures
Full Dentures
If tooth loss continues, it can lead to dentures. Many patients don't understand
the full consequences of wearing dentures. There can be many problems with
dentures including:
1. Inability to eat certain
foods
2. Lowered ability
to feel and taste foods
3. Lisping or
clacking when speaking
4. Bad breath
or smell
5. Pain or discomfort
6. The look of
dentures
7. Self-consciousness
and embarrassment
8. Looking old
 9.
Taking your dentures out at night and soaking them.
10. Your spouse
seeing you without teeth at night.
"People think of gum disease in terms of their teeth,
but they don't think about the fact that gum disease is a serious infection
that can release bacteria into the bloodstream"
Dr. Robert Genco, editor Journal of Periodontology
Heart Disease & Heart Attack
Recent studies have shown that people with periodontal disease are 2.7 times
more likely to suffer a heart attack.
Stroke
Studies have also shown that people with periodontal disease are 3 times more
likely to suffer a stroke.
Pre-Term Childbirth
Women with periodontal disease are 7-8 times more likely to give birth prematurely
to a low birth-weight baby.
Diabetes
Periodontal infection can raise blood sugar in diabetic patients. Periodontal
treatment often results in a reduced need for insulin.
Respiratory Disease
Periodontal infection in the mouth can be breathed in and increase the severity
of such respiratory diseases as pneumonia, bronchitis and emphysema.
Your Bacteria Can Be Transmitted
Research using DNA testing has found that periodontal bacteria can be transmitted
from parent to child and spouse to spouse.
Periodontal Infection is a Medical Problem
Periodontal disease is no longer thought of as just a dental problem. Research
is finding many correlations between periodontal infection and serious medical
problems.
Some Patients are At Higher Risk
These correlations are particularly serious for those patients who are in a
higher risk category such as:
Those having a personal or family history of:
Heart Disease
Heart Attack
Stroke
Premature Childbirth
Diabetes
Respiratory Diseases
Those having higher risk lifestyles, including:
Chronic Stress
Smoker
Sedentary and Overweight
Frequent Colds, Flu etc.
Higher Risk Patients
If you have been told you have periodontal infection (or have some of its symptoms),
it is vital that you seek evaluation and treatment.
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