This article, part 4 of 4, presents a number of questions that are frequently asked by patients about periodontal (gum) disease.

1. Ask the Dentist in Fort
Lauderdale: Frequently Asked
Questions About Gum Disease!
PART 4
This article, part 4 of 4, presents a number of questions that are frequently asked
by patients about periodontal (gum) disease.
This dentist in Fort Lauderdale has used this four-part FAQ series to spread a greater understanding of
periodontal (gum) disease and the various treatment options available. Since many patients avoid the
dentist’s chair out of fear, anxiety or even embarrassment, it is the purpose of this information to
encourage those that need treatment to seek it; or at least to help them realize that their oral health is
at risk. In this, the fourth and final article installment of this FAQ series, the dentist in Fort Lauderdale
will be answering some final questions about the repercussions of periodontal disease left untreated…
FAQ # 9: If I am diagnosed with gum disease, can my teeth be
saved?
The most important point to remember here, says the dentist
in Fort Lauderdale is that the earlier the disease is diagnosed,
the greater your chance of making a complete recovery will be.
Periodontal disease causes all sorts of terrible symptoms,
including severe tooth discoloration and tooth loss! Ignoring
missing teeth subsequently leads to atrophy of the underlying
jaw bone tissue, which in turn causes a whole suite of
expensive oral problems. By seeking regular professional
attention from the dentist in Fort Lauderdale, any signs of oral
bacterial infection can be diagnosed and treated before they
have a chance to do permanent damage.

2. Presenting with periodontitis does not necessarily mean that you are going to lose all your teeth. But it
certainly puts you at a risk of tooth loss! With the right periodontal care by this dentist in Fort
Lauderdale, and subsequently, proper home oral hygiene, your teeth can indeed be saved. But
remember, the key is to catch it early on, so if it has been more than six months since your last
appointment, perhaps now is a good time to make that phone call!
FAQ # 10: What happens if I don’t seek treatment for gum disease?
Periodontal (gum) disease is an acute and chronic bacterial infection of the gums; one that has
penetrated deep down into the gingival sulci surrounding the tooth roots. While this condition
progresses quite slowly, the inevitable consequences of allowing it to go without treatment are tooth
loss. Moreover, says the dentist in Fort Lauderdale, periodontal disease has been shown to share
significant relationships with other very serious and potentially fatal systemic diseases affecting other
parts of the body. These include cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, kidney disorders,
Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and even certain types of cancers. Without
treatment, you are not only compromising your oral health;
you are also risking your life, says the dentist in Fort
Lauderdale!
Don’t allow a fear of treatment to get in the way of restoring
good oral health and hygiene, urges the dentist in Fort
Lauderdale! Think of it this way; if you accidentally cut your
arm and it became infected, would you put off going to the
hospital simply because you were scared of what the
treatment would involve? Or would you put aside your fear
and anxiety and go out of an even greater concern for
developing gangrene? Treating a cut when it happens could
involve nothing more than the application of some anti-septic cream and a few stitches. Ignoring it could
lead to gangrene and amputation. This comparison may sound extreme, but the dentist in Fort
Lauderdale has seen cases of terrible neglect that could easily have been treated using straight-forward,
non-invasive techniques were it not identified early on.
A Final Note from the Dentist in Fort Lauderdale
If you have any other questions or suspect that you may be suffering from some form or stage of
periodontal disease, then do not hesitate to contact this qualified and experienced dentist in Fort
Lauderdale.