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StarBrite Dental Logo - Dentist Rockville MD 20852

Special Offer: Complimentary Periodontal Disease Consultation

*We DO NOT ACCEPT HMO Insurance, State Insurance, Medicaid/Medicare, or discount plans. Fees apply for services. 

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Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease refers to various ailments of the gums and other supporting structures of your teeth. The most common one that you’ve probably heard of (on a mouthwash commercial, most likely) is gingivitis, inflammation of the gums.


Why “gingivitis?” Simple. Because the Latin word for gums is gingiva.


It’s not what people usually think of first when dental health comes to mind, but your daily oral hygiene habits should focus not just on your teeth, but also on the tissue that holds them in place. 

Gum Trivia

Your gums are actually divided into three separate types!

Marginal Gums

This portion of the gum is the part that reaches up, or down, creating something of a collar around each tooth. 

Attached Gums

Found just below the marginal gums, this part of your gums works with the periodontal ligament to form a tight bond around each tooth.

Interdental Gums

This is the part of the gums that sits directly between the teeth, forming the “gumscape” surrounding your smile, so to speak.

Why You Might Need to See a Gum Specialist?

Your gums are designed to do just what it looks like they do—hold your teeth in place. They also provide protection for the roots of your teeth. How they do that is a bit more involved. Each tooth sits in a pocket of gum-covered bone—the alveolar bone. That pocket is lined by something called the periodontal ligament, which helps the gums grab onto your teeth.



All of these gum-related responsibilities are why flossing is so important. Plaque and tartar below the gums are a barrier between the gums and what they are meant to do. When you wrap floss around a tooth and clean just below the gum line, you’re doing one of the most important things you can to help ensure long-term oral health.



In addition to holding onto your teeth, your gums also play a role in keeping your mouth clean, since they are covered by a mucous membrane, designed to do just that.

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What Our Patients Are Saying About Us

"The doctor’s and all the employees are really great! Very nice and always available to answer any questions. I’m really happy with my smile now and feel wonderful. Highly recommend and super happy with my experience!!!"
- Ashley C.
★★★★★
"Very friendly staff. I was able to get started with my treatment in an affordable way. After avoiding the dentist for so many years due to fear of both dentists and the cost, Dr. Seifi and her team at StarBrite helped me to get healthy again. Thank you!"
- Carolina V.
★★★★★
"Felt very comfortable at this office. They give you all of the options for your treatment. I came in not knowing what type of treatment I was eligible for and they explained and answered all my questions"
- Jacqueline B.
★★★★★

It’s Not Just About Your Teeth

Your gums are important to your teeth, of course. But research indicates that gum inflammation can be connected to more than just oral health concerns.
diabetes - gum disease

Take diabetes for instance:

  • People with diabetes tend to have a greater likelihood of gum disease—perhaps because diabetics are prone to infections. It is also thought that the relationship can be flipped in some cases—that gum disease might make it harder for a diabetic to get a handle on their blood sugar.
  • Diabetes can cause blood vessels to become thick, slowing them down and making it harder for nutrients to get where they need to be and for waste products to get out of the way. That can weaken the ability of your gums to fight off infections. 
  • Bacteria that feed on glucose—the sugar with which diabetics have a problem—can build up in the mouth and cause infection when the diabetes isn’t under control, because those bacteria want to be where the glucose is. 

"I came here in February for a new patient appointment. I had been avoiding the dentist for 25 years and I knew I had quite the situation in my mouth.  I wanted to get it taken care of and StarBrite helped me do that. The staff is very friendly with ability to immediately service their patients. I found out that I had periodontal disease as well as other dental issues. My hygiene appointments with Cherise have been excellent. Dr. Akmal extracted a few of my teeth. 5 to be exact. The extractions were PAINLESS. He is a true gentle man.

Dr. Seifi and Dr. Ledoux are very honest and straight to the point. They will tell you in the worst situation what needs to be done and are very helpful in explaining what treatment they recommend.  Very glad I came to this office."

- Mike R.

Heart disease - periodontal

And then there’s heart and cardiovascular disease:

  • Gum disease has been found by researchers to increase the risk of heart disease, but there’s still no direct connection saying that one directly causes the other. 
  • While there is no proof that periodontal disease causes heart disease, it has been discovered that periodontal problems can aggravate an existing heart condition. 
  • Bacteria that form below the gun line is in a position to make its way into your bloodstream through any of the many vascular routes to be found in your mouth

Other conditions that have been linked to periodontal disease include stroke, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, preterm labor and even cancer. So, the best course of action when you have inflamed gums is to get them looked at, especially if you have a family history of illnesses that could include periodontal disease as a symptom or side-effect.

Doing Your Periodontal Part

Periodontists love doing what they do. That being said, they much rather see people healthy than not. Brushing and flossing regularly, and effectively, helps to make that happen.



Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day doesn’t sound like much at its face, but these habits and routines can easily be forgotten during the day-to-day grind many of us experience. That’s unfortunate, because daily oral hygiene means everything when it comes to preventing gum disease


During your next dental exam, ask your hygienist to walk you through a good routine for brushing and flossing thoroughly. They may even have more efficient and effective methods at their disposal to show you. And don't be embarrassed. You learned how to brush your teeth as a child. A touch-up on technique is always beneficial.

Treating Periodontal Disease

Illustration of gum disease from healthy to gingivitis and finally periodontitis

“Periodontal treatment” is a term that can sound threatening, so let’s break it down.


“Perio” simply means, “around.” “Dontal” refers to your teeth. So, anything “periodontal” is something that needs to be done for the tissue and/or bones that are around your teeth. That said, the type of periodontal treatment one receives depends on how advance the problem is.


Inflamed gums resulting from gingivitis may require nothing but a very thorough, professional cleaning of your teeth, above and just below the gum line. Periodontal treatments depend on the type of gum disease and how severe it is. 


If a condition that used to be gingivitis has advanced to something more serious, your periodontist might recommend a procedure called “scaling and root planning.” That involves using special instruments to clean deep down inside the pocket your tooth sits in. The root is also shaped and smoothed so that bacteria can’t find nooks and crannies in which to hide, and so the gum can more easily reattach to the tooth.

 

In situations where standard planing and scaling can’t get the job done, periodontal surgery—in which the periodontist gains access into the gums for a better angle on deep-seated plaque and tartar—may be called for. After that kind of surgery, the gums will be sewn back together with sutures, so that they cling tightly to the tooth.


That’s a very brief overview of the many ways a periodontist can help with gum disease, but we hope it gives you an idea of just how important it is to see a specialist about periodontal problems. StarBrite Dental feels that it’s important enough to keep a full-time periodontist on the StarBrite team.

If not ready to schedule, here's some information about Gum Disease:

By StarBrite Dental 16 Oct, 2018
The health of your gums is vital to your overall health. Learn five ways to protect them from StarBrite Dental in Rockville, MD.
By StarBrite Dental 28 Sep, 2018
If you live in the Rockville, Maryland or metropolitan Washington, D.C. area,  and you have any concerns about your gums, please contact StarBrite Dental for a free consultation with Dr. Omer Akmal.
woman with tooth sensitivity
By StarBrite Dental 07 Apr, 2018
Sensitivity and pain in the tooth or gums is a common dental issue today. There are many different causes for this sensitivity and pain that are often forgotten about, or simply not addressed. We are ready to help with all of these issues.

Contact Us to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation Today!

*We DO NOT ACCEPT HMO Insurance, State Insurance, Medicaid/Medicare, or discount plans. Fees apply for services. 

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(301) 377-2186

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