Gum Disease

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• Gum And Bone Disease That Goes Undetected

  Dr. Kakaris feels that prevention is an overused word in our vocabulary but we all know it works.  You see it in what you do every day.  Who wouldn't rather prevent a crisis than manage one?
  
  In the Woodhaven area awareness of gum and underlying bone disease is very low. Only 50% of the population visits a dentist on a regular basis.  Of that 50%, 80% have some degree of gum and bone disease.  It is an epidemic.  Were this any other disease, we would be calling on the CDC for immediate action!
  
  
  

• Gum Disease...Can Be Helped At Kakaris Family Dentistry

  The American Dental Association says that over 75-80% of all adults, even in the Woodhaven, Wyandotte and Monroe area, have or will have some form of gum disease.
  
  Gum disease, or more correctly called "periodontal disease", is a bacterial infection in the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.  It can be divided into several categories.
  
  The first stage is called "gingivitis" and is characterized by gum tissue that is red, puffy, and bleeds easily when touched with a toothbrush, floss or dental instrument.
  
  The second, third, and fourth stages are initial, moderate, and advanced "periodontal disease", respectively.  These stages are different from gingivitis because the infection has destroyed the bone supporting the teeth, causing eventual tooth loss.  At Kakaris Family Dentistry the treatment is more involved at these stages, usually consisting of a special cleaning with anesthesia and sometimes gum surgery.
  
  

• Gum Disease During Pregnancy Can Be Treated At Kakaris Family Dentistry

  Many mothers have experienced gum disease, dental pain and/or tooth extraction during or shortly after their pregnancy.  This is often seen as being a "normal" side effect of being pregnant.  However Dr. Kakaris feels that dental disease, which is an infection of the teeth and/or gums, is not "normal" for any patient.
  
  There are three basic events that happen during pregnancy which make the patient more susceptible to dental disease. First, hormonal changes may make the gums more susceptible to gum disease.
  
  Second, pregnant women tend to eat smaller, more frequent meals, exposing their teeth and gums to sugars and acids more often. Third, cravings for "junk foods" and inadequate oral hygiene pose an increased threat to the teeth and gums.
  
  Pregnant women in the Woodhaven area are advised to schedule a dental evaluation and receive preventive dental care at Kakaris Family Dentistry.  Personalized oral hygiene instruction by Dr. Kakaris will be given to fight disease and promote overall good health for the mother and her baby.

  
  
  

• Infections In Joint Replacements Can Be Instigated By Severe Gum Problems. Call Dr. Kakaris For Help.

  Dr. Kakaris strongly recommends a thorough dental examination for presence of tooth and gum infection prior to joint replacement.
  
  Periodontal disease is a commonly occurring oral infection of the adult population (80% of adults are affected) destroying the bony support of the teeth.  This infection slowly progresses over the lifetime of the patient and is often manifested in the advanced stage in the senior population.
  
  Because of the lack of any discomfort to the patient until total loss of bony support to the teeth, many adults are unaware that they have this infection until they visit Kakaris Family Dentistry.  However, the bacteria from this bone destroying disease, especially in the more advanced cases, has been attributed to possible infection of joint replacements.
  
  Candidates for joint replacements who have not been seen by Dr. Kakaris in over a year should consider a thorough dental evaluation of their teeth and gums before surgery.
  
  Depending on the severity of the infection, treatment of gum infections and tooth abscesses may take from two weeks to two months before the patient reaches adequate health before surgery.
  
  

• Oral Disease – Gingivitis…How Dr. Kakaris Can Help

  Gingivitis is the most common periodontal disease, affecting 90% of the population, including our local Woodhaven area community.  It is an infection of the gums caused by bacteria that form plaque.
  
  In small amounts (when it is newly formed), plaque is invisible and relatively harmless.  But when left to accumulate, it increases in volume and the proportion of harmful bacteria grows.
  
  These bacteria release toxins that result in inflammation of the gum tissue.  Eventually, the plaque hardens and forms hard deposits called calculus or tartar.
  
  If not properly treated, gingivitis may progress to periodontitis, a periodontal disease in which there is loss of the bone that supports the teeth.
  
  

• Some Dental Problems Are Easy To See – Plaque!

  One of the easiest problems to spot is a build-up of plaque. Plaque is the soft, sticky layer of bacteria, which is constantly forming on the teeth.
  
  Usually it is invisible to the naked eye, but when a person is not brushing adequately, it can build up to where it appears to be a thick whitish coating on the teeth at the gum line.  If not removed, it can lead to gum disease.
  
  Another potential problem, which is easy to spot, is missing teeth.  Many patients Dr. Kakaris sees assume that if they are still able to eat, they are O.K.
  
  But very often, losing just one tooth can lead to the loss of support, and teeth begin to drift into the empty space, causing a change in the bite.  It also forces the remaining teeth to carry an additional load, sometimes past their ability to adapt.  In most cases, when even one tooth is lost, the remaining teeth suffer and are more likely to be lost as well.