Updated Nov. 20, 2024

Periodontal Disease is an Infection

Periodontal Disease is an infection, but because it occurs in the mouth, many people do not think of gum disease as an infection. And as an infection, the extent can be shown by both looking at a microscopic slide and the radiographs (xrays)  of the teeth and jaws. If the teeth are quite loose, the breath is terrible, the bleeding is extensive, and the bone loss is noticeable, then a laboratory Culture and Sensitivity Test (C&S) should be done. This is the same way that any other branch of medicine would proceed, and biological dentistry is no different.

Proper Treatment of Periodontal Disease, or Gum Disease

Over the past few months, we have seen several patients in our holistic family dentistry practice who have advanced periodontal disease. We took samples of their plaque and sent the samples off to the Laboratory at Temple University. When the results came back, it was clearly obvious that the antibiotics classically used to treat a periodontal infection would be ineffective because the bacteria in the patient’s mouth was resistant to these antibiotics.

If the classical antibiotic treatment was done, it not only would not have eliminated the disease, it might have helped create a very dangerous “super-bug” from the bacteria which were resistant. This is because bacteria exist in a relationship of keeping each other under control to some extent, and killing the competing bacteria while letting the resistant bacteria grow stronger may contribute to creating this super-bug. The result could be disastrous.

The kind of testing used at NIHA holistic family dentistry for periodontal disease is important to determine the proper course of treatment. This is important for proper periodontal disease treatment but also for the long term health of the patient.

We will do our best to give you the finest, most up-to-date, and excellent Biological Dental Care available.