Gum Disease 101

Did your gums bleed a bit when you brushed last night? Do they feel tender or swollen? You might not want to ignore these early possible signs of gum disease.

We’ve reported the results of numerous studies over the last few years which potentially link gum disease with the following:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Heart disease
• Kidney, pancreatic and blood cancers
• Respiratory diseases like pneumonia
• Premature births and low-birth weight babies
• Rheumatoid arthritis (tooth loss)
• Higher blood pressure
• Cancer

Gum disease in its most mild form, gingivitis, is usually reversible with increased brushing and flossing and a good cleaning by your dentist. At the Pennsylvania Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics, we treat more severe forms of gum disease with an FDA-approved laser protocol called LANAP® which successfully clears away bacteria without traditional “surgery” involving scalpels and sutures. With LANAP®, patients experience less pain, less bleeding, less swelling and less sensitivity. Diseased tissue and bacteria are simply zapped away, leaving behind the healthy gum tissue.

Interested in learning more? Call 215-677-8686 and check out some of our patient testimonial videos about the LANAP procedure, like this one, in which a patient said —”I would highly recommend having this done as opposed to traditional periodontal surgery.”