Different Types of Gum Disease

Many patients come into our office saying that they feel like they might have gum disease. What many patients fail to realize though is that there are many different types of gum disease you may be suffering from. The kind of gum disease you have will determine the kind of treatment you receive from our periodontists in Los Angeles.

Generally speaking, there are two main kinds of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the mild stage of gum disease, and it often does not cause any pain to the patient. For this reason, it is important to always schedule regular appointments with your dentist and to practice good oral hygiene on your own time to prevent gingivitis from occurring in the first place; otherwise, it could escalate into periodontitis, which is the more advance stage of gum disease.

If not treated promptly, periodontitis can result in tooth loss and the loss of soft tissues in the mouth. However, there are different kinds of periodontitis you may have, including:

•    Aggressive periodontitis, which can result in bone destruction and rapid attachment loss
•    Chronic periodontitis, which is the most common form of the disease that can lead to periodontal pockets and gum recession
•    Periodontitis can work in tandem with other systemic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes
•    Necrotizing Periodontal Disease, which is a systemic condition that occurs in patients who also suffer from malnutrition or HIV infection