Baton Rouge Dentist

Do Deep Periodontal Pockets Mean You Need All Your Teeth Removed?

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After two scaling and planing appointments, my dentist wants to extract my teeth. I was a caregiver for 7 years and neglected my own health. Now that I can take care of myself, I am catching up on medical and dental appointments. I wasn’t expecting total tooth loss. What questions should I ask the dentist? Thanks. Kamille from TX

Kamille,

Teeth with plaque buildup and a dental instrument to remove it for gum disease treatment
Periodontal (gum) disease treatment may help save your teeth

Periodontal probing is an important diagnostic tool, but measurements are not always exact. Heavy tartar deposits on tooth roots can prevent a probe from reaching the true bottom of a pocket. Also, severely inflamed tissue may allow the probe to penetrate more deeply than expected. Both situations can create differences in recorded pocket depths.

For those reasons, a change from 9 mm to 12 mm over a short period should be interpreted with caution and evaluated in the context of your overall periodontal health.

Does Advanced Gum Disease Mean You’ll Lose All Your Teeth?

While severe periodontitis can threaten the survival of teeth, immediately declaring every tooth unsavable is unusual.

Many factors influence a tooth’s prognosis, including:

  • Tooth mobility
  • Remaining bone support
  • Root anatomy
  • Response to treatment
  • Overall oral hygiene habits

A complete evaluation should consider all these factors rather than relying solely on pocket depths.

Why Is It Reasonable to Try Treatment First?

If you have gone years without professional dental care, inflammation and periodontal disease may have progressed significantly during that time.

Many periodontists wait to see how the tissues respond after appropriate periodontal therapy and improved home care. Once inflammation is reduced, it becomes much easier to evaluate the true condition of the teeth and supporting bone.

That information can help determine which teeth can be maintained successfully and which may be unsavable.

Why Seek a Second Opinion?

A second opinion can provide additional perspective and help you better understand your treatment options. Look for a periodontist who takes time to explain findings, answers questions thoroughly, and discusses both tooth-saving and replacement options.

 

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. He strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

 

I Have a Tooth Gap from Gum Disease

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I have a tooth gap from gum disease between my front left center tooth and the canine. I had braces in my late teens, and my teeth were straight, but now my smile is messed up. I am afraid of what will happen to my teeth. How does a dentist close a gap that results from gum disease? Thanks, Arianna from MI

 

Arianna,

Periodontal (gum) disease is advanced when it causes your teeth to move. If you have not begun treatment, schedule an appointment with a periodontist for an evaluation.

Why Do Tooth Gaps Form with Gum Disease?

Tooth gaps can form with untreated gum disease. The infection and bacteria cause teeth to separate from their ligaments and supporting bones. The condition will also destroy the bone.  According to the American Academy of Periodontology, a periodontologist (gum specialist) will assign a stage to your gum disease—from initial to severe—and recommend treatment.

What Is the Treatment for Tooth Gaps from Gum Disease?

Teeth with plaque buildup and a dental instrument to remove it for gum disease treatment
Periodontal (gum) disease treatment can prevent teeth from shifting

Treating tooth gaps from gum disease depends on the severity of your case but can include:

  • Deep cleanings – Removing disease from gum pockets
  • Bone graft – Replacing damaged or destroyed bone with grafting material
  • Gum grafts – Replacing destroyed gum tissue with donor material or soft tissue from your palate

Your specialist will explain which treatment combinations you need. Some treatment plans include braces to realign teeth.

Unsavable teeth require removal and replacement with dental implants. A dental bridge may be an option if your budget does not allow you to get dental implants.

We recommend scheduling a consultation with a periodontist and a skilled cosmetic dentist to help restore your oral health and smile.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.