Everyone suffers from gum disease at some point or another, and in its simplest form presents as bleeding gums (gingivitis). Left unchecked, the disease progresses with irreversible bone loss, and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults over 35 years. There are several risk factors involved, genetics being one of them, and early diagnosis and treatment is vitally important in keeping healthy teeth and gums. Your dentist will check your gums at your routine dental check-up and determine your periodontal status. Depending on the diagnosis your dentist may treat your gum condition in conjunction with a hygienist, or refer you to a gum specialist (Periodontist) for specialist treatment. |