Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss at ages over 35. There is a chance someone has periodontal disease and not know. However, if diagnosed in its early stages, can be reversed with proper care.
What is periodontitis; Essentially the development of gingivitis. If your teeth and gums are not cleaned for a long time the bone under the gums (which holds the root of the tooth in place) begins to decrease. The plaque destroys the bone around the tooth, creating a gap between tooth and gum, called the capsule. The dentist can measure the depth of the cavity with a special tool called "probes".As the bone disappears, the gum above it begin to shrink. Over the years, all the bone that holds the tooth root is destroyed, the tooth begins to shake and eventually falls.
