Paul S. Rosen D.M.D., M.S., P.C.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that affects both the gum and the jaw bone supporting the teeth. If left untreated, progression of this disease can lead to tooth loss. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 47.2% of the US population over the age of 30 have either mild, moderate or severe periodontal disease and in adults 65 and older, the prevalence rate increases to 70.1 percent. Of concern is that periodontal disease shares links with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory issues to name just a few. In other words, the disease in your gums can contribute to problems not only in your jaw but also the rest of your body. In some cases, successful treatment of your gum condition can substantially improve your overall health. Furthermore, by enhancing the health of your gums and teeth, you can avoid the problems that tooth loss brings like the need to wear partial or full dentures, a poorer ability to eat, poorer nutrition and diminished self-esteem.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to support a replacement tooth. In the case where several teeth are missing, more than one implant may be placed to support a set of teeth known as a bridge. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.

The recession of the gum line is a frequent finding among adults and in some cases, even young patients following orthodontic care. Soft tissue grafting and other root coverage procedures can be performed to either cover the exposed roots or prevent this from occurring. This will not only improve your smile, but it may also protect your teeth from developing root decay or to reduce or eliminate sensitivity to hot and cold foods.

Dental implants have a long history of success and have aided millions of patients who have lost one or more of their teeth. While the majority of implants will function successfully, this may not always be the case. With more dentists placing and restoring dental implants, some of whom, lack the extensive experience that Dr. Rosen has had since he was trained back in the late 1980’s, dental implant complications are on the rise. Some of these problems are related to the health of the gum and bone around the implant where the implant becomes infected leading to gum and bone loss and potentially to the loss of the implant itself.