One of the most common comments I get from my patients is, “if I have gum disease, why it does not hurt? And if I have gum disease why are you saying I have bone loss?”
Periodontal disease consists of a wide range of disease conditions that include not only the gum (gingiva) but also the bony structure (jaw bone) that surrounds the tooth or more accurately the root which is in the jaw bone. As a general rule disease classifications are useful for the purpose of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. Gum disease is a layman term for Periodontitis.
Periodontitis can be localized, meaning involve one or two teeth in the mouth, or it can be generalized, involving several teeth. It can be limited to one quadrant of the mouth, or all four quadrants. It can be mild, moderate, and severe and it can also be acute (painful) or chronic (non-painful).
So if your doctor tells you that you have gum disease (or Periodontal disease) it really does not specify much, unless it is further classified. Most periodontal disease conditions are NOT PAINFUL. This is another confusing factor for patients. Many people associate a problem, with pain. In their mind, if there is not pain, there is no problem. In case of periodontal disease this assumption is very wrong as by far the majority of cases are asymptomatic, even though the clinical presentation can be rather scary. For example, a chronic abscess with a draining fistula as a result of a periodontal abscess does not hurt at all. But if this case is not treated on time, it can soon lead to a tooth extraction.
If you are suffering from periodontal disease, it is best to consult with to Dr Noohi and seek a treatment remedy.