What Is Periodontal Disease?

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a serious condition that can lead to the loss of teeth and serious illness. It's often the reason behind bleeding gums, loose teeth, or bad breath. Periodontitis is a disease of the support structure of the teeth — the alveolar bone, root cement, periodontal ligament, and gums — and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

It's primarily caused by many strains of bacteria, though various co-factors can play an important role even where, alone, they wouldn't be enough to cause the disease. Stopping the condition begins with a thorough diagnosis.

The Behrens Dental Practice is one of very few to use technologies such as dental lasers that are minimally invasive and practically pain-free — allowing us to treat periodontal disease without resorting to surgery.