Kathryn Philpott-Hill, DDS, maintained an independent dental practice in Sylva, North Carolina, from 1996 through 2008. During that time, Dr. Kathryn Philpott-Hill treated many patients’ gum disease in varying stages of advancement.
Gum disease occurs when infectious bacteria in the mouth cause inflammation of the periodontal tissue. Infection usually begins with redness and swelling of the periodontal tissue, which becomes prone to bleeding. Known as gingivitis, this stage of disease is fully reversible, given timely professional intervention and at-home hygiene.
If left untreated, however, gingivitis may develop into periodontitis. This occurs when plaque begins to grow below the gum line, where it breaks down the bone and soft tissue that support the teeth. Bone loss becomes increasingly severe as the disease progresses through its early and moderate stages.
For most patients, periodontitis develops as chronic disease, which progresses relatively slowly and symmetrically across the mouth. Professional treatment and advanced home hygiene may further slow the progression and prevent tooth loss. For others, however, varying forms of bacteria and systemic immune deficiencies lead to more rapid and cyclical progression, which is more difficult to control.
Patients with non-chronic gum disease may be more prone to advanced periodontitis, which affects approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients whose disease progresses beyond gingivitis. For those whose disease does reach this advanced form, the decomposition of supportive bone becomes increasingly severe and may result in tooth loss.
