West Branch Family Dentistry, P.L.L.C.
989-345-7750
cchrysler@charter.net
Quick Reference
Should a Tooth Be Extracted Because of Gum Disease?
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the teeth, gums, and the bone that surround the teeth. It's this infection, combined with your body's reaction to it, that causes bone loss.
The roots of teeth extend into the bone of the jaw.
This is a healthy mouth. The bone comes up high around the necks of the teeth.
This is advanced periodontal disease. The bone level is much lower. Notice how uneven the bone levels are, compared to the healthy mouth.
Once bone has been lost, it never grows back. When too much bone is lost, there's so little support for the teeth that they get loose and have to be removed.