Periodontal Health and Gum Disease Dentistry

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a low-grade, chronic infection of the gums surrounding your teeth. Bacterial plaque lives in your mouth and attaches to your teeth. This occurs both above and below the gum line, and if enough collects underneath your gums and is not removed, an infection will start.

Periodontal disease is an often painless, yet serious condition that can result in tooth loss. When not treated adequately, periodontal disease destroys the attachment fibers and weakens the bone that actually supports and holds your teeth in your mouth. The bone literally dissolves, causing the teeth to become loose. If this condition is left untreated, it can result in tooth loss.

Periodontal disease is the silent killer of the dental world. There is more and more research that shows gum disease is a contributing factor to life-threatening problems such as diabetes, vascular disorders and some cancers. The bloodstream of the gums is the same bloodstream that runs through your entire body. Keeping your gums free from infection will support the health of your entire system.

How Do I Know if I Have Periodontal Disease?

It is possible to be unaware that you have a serious problem until gum disease has reached advanced periodontal stages. Because it is usually a painless condition, you can remain unaware of it until you suffer the symptoms. This may include:

  • Loose teeth
  • Bleeding or receding gums
  • Chronic bad breath

Due to the effect this disease can have on your overall health, Dr. Holevas offers a complimentary periodontal evaluation to everyone. He will do a simple saliva test using DNA testing right in our offices. This will help assess your periodontal health, genetic risk to oral infections, advanced periodontal problems, and all kinds of gum diseases.

Dr. Holevas has studied gum disease and continues to stay current with new findings. He will guide his patients to good resources for more information. Dr. Holevas believes in providing you with life-changing dentistry that will keep you smiling and healthy far into the future.

How Can I Treat My Gum Disease?

Dr. Holevas and his team believe that gentle care and understanding play a large role in helping you get through the troubling experience of having periodontal disease. We have helped many patients overcome this challenge with expert treatment.

There is a customized approach to treating periodontal disease that doesn’t require major surgery. Dr. Holevas and his periodontal disease treatment team use the latest in laser dentistry to comfortably treat gum disease. He understands your concern for your health, as well as the fear of painful treatment.

The precision of lasers allows our periodontal disease dentist to remove the infection and inflammatory toxins from the gum tissue while keeping you comfortable and minimizing damage to the surrounding gum tissue. In addition, regularly scheduled dental appointments will assist in treatment.

If tooth loss has already occurred, there are options to remedy the effects of periodontal disease, such as dental implants.

Can I recover from gum disease?

Our periodontal disease dentist, Dr. Holevas, is highly experienced in gum disease treatment. This makes tooth loss prevention easier than ever. When you know the risks associated with gum disease and periodontal problems, you can change it. Click at the top of the page to schedule an appointment or call our offices today to set up an appointment.

Areas served by our Elgin, IL office: