Periodontitis-
Have you recently visited the dentist and after a few assessments, the dental hygienist says you have something called periodontitis? You are not alone! In fact, half of adults over 30 years of age have periodontitis, as well as, 70% of adults over the age of 65. But what is periodontitis? Let’s break down the word “periodontitis,” shall we? The prefix, perio-, is Greek for “around” and the root word, -dont-, comes from the word odonto which means “tooth.” Finally, the suffix, -itis, is defined as “an inflammatory disease.” So, the word periodontitis literally translates to “an inflammatory disease around the tooth.” The inflammation around the tooth is caused by bacteria and if left untreated, can cause the gums to be red and sore and the bone to breakdown around the tooth. Your dental hygienist can recommend the type of cleaning, antibiotic, and additional treatment needed to reverse the inflammation and make those teeth and gums happy again! Call Power Ranch Dental today (480) 988-2282.
