What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis, is an advanced form of gum disease that damages the tissues and bone supporting your teeth. As it progresses, the support around your teeth can be lost, causing teeth to become loose and, in some cases, eventually leading to tooth loss.
Periodontitis often develops from gingivitis, when your gums become swollen or bleed when you brush. Gingivitis can usually be managed and reversed with the right care. Periodontitis is different because it can cause damage to the structures supporting your teeth and needs professional treatment to manage.
If you’re concerned about your gums, speak to your dentist. Full mouth dental implants don’t treat active periodontal disease. They may become an option once the disease has been appropriately managed, where the teeth are failing or missing and when a full-mouth solution is clinically appropriate.
What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?
Signs of periodontal disease can include:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or eat
- Red, swollen or sore gums
- Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste
- Pain when eating
- Gums pulling away from your teeth
- Teeth that feel loose or start to move
- Tooth loss
These symptoms can have other causes and don’t always mean you have periodontal disease. If you notice any changes to your gums or teeth, talk to your dentist so they can assess what is causing them.
What causes periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease develops when bacteria in plaque build up around the teeth and gums. If plaque isn’t removed effectively, it can cause inflammation that damages the tissues and bone supporting your teeth.
Several factors can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease, including:
- Smoking
- Genetics and family history
- Certain health conditions, including diabetes
Periodontal disease isn’t simply a result of poor brushing or oral hygiene. If you develop it, your dentist can explain the treatment you need to manage it and protect your remaining teeth.
Stages of periodontal disease
Periodontal disease can become more advanced over time, particularly if it’s not treated. Early diagnosis and treatment can help control the disease and reduce the risk of further damage.
Your gums may look red or swollen and bleed when you brush. Gingivitis affects the gums but does not cause the loss of the bone supporting your teeth. With the right care, the swelling can often be reversed.
As periodontal disease develops, inflammation can begin to damage the tissue and bone supporting your teeth. Some loss of the bone around the teeth may occur. You’ll need treatment from a dentist to manage it and limit further damage.
As more of the supporting tissue and bone is lost, your gums may recede and your teeth can start to feel less secure. You may also notice changes in how your teeth meet when you bite. Ongoing care from a dentist becomes especially important.
More of the tissue and bone holding your teeth has been lost. Some teeth may become very loose, or it may no longer be possible to save them. Your dentist will assess which teeth can be kept and explain the treatment options available if teeth are failing or need to be removed.
What happens when periodontal disease causes tooth loss?
Advanced periodontal disease can result in the loss of teeth and some of the bone that supported them. This can make replacing missing teeth more complex, particularly if you’re considering implants.
You may find that:
- There’s less bone available to support conventional dental implants
- Removable dentures are offered as one option
- Eating comfortably becomes more difficult
- You’re unsure if a fixed alternative is still possible
Losing teeth can affect your confidence too, especially if you’re worried about loose teeth moving when you eat or speak.
Dentures work well for many people. However, some people find they move when eating, or don’t give them the bite they want. If that’s your experience, you may want to explore alternatives to dentures.
Full mouth dental implants may be an option if your remaining teeth can no longer give you a working bite, and all the teeth in one or both jaws need replacing.
We would never recommend full mouth dental implants to replace healthy teeth or for cosmetic reasons alone. Treatment is only considered when there is a genuine clinical need.
Can you have dental implants after periodontal disease?
Having had periodontal disease or bone loss in the past doesn’t automatically rule out full mouth dental implants. However, any active periodontal disease needs to be properly managed before implant treatment can be considered.
Your assessment will look at:
- The health of your remaining teeth and gums
- How much suitable bone is available
- Where that bone is positioned
- The quality of the remaining bone
We’ll also use a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan to create a detailed 3D picture of your jaws. This helps us assess the available bone and plan where implants can be positioned to provide suitable support.
If full mouth dental implants aren’t right for you, we’ll tell you honestly and explain what we recommend instead.
Transformations
Real patients. Real results.
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Full upper and lower jaw implants. -
Full upper and lower jaw implants. -
Full upper and lower jaw implants.
EvoDental treatments for tooth loss caused by periodontal disease
If periodontal disease has caused a lot of tooth loss, or your remaining teeth can no longer provide a functional bite, dental implants may offer a fixed alternative to removable dentures.
You may also hear this type of treatment described as All-on-4 or All-on-6. At EvoDental, treatment is planned around your individual needs and can include:
- Four to six implants in each jaw to support fixed new teeth
- Advanced implant placement in areas where stronger bone remains, including the pterygoid region
- Implant planning that can often avoid bone grafts or sinus lifts
- Bespoke, screw-retained fixed teeth
- Planning and delivery by one integrated team, including EvoDental’s in-house dental laboratories
- Fixed teeth fitted on the same day as implant placement for suitable patients
The aim is to restore a functional bite, helping you enjoy a varied diet, speak clearly and feel confident in social situations.
Dental implants aren’t isn’t right for everyone with periodontal disease. It’s only considered once active periodontal disease has been properly managed, and we’ll only recommend full mouth dental implants when there’s a genuine need.
Find out what treatment options are available to you
If periodontal disease has left you with failing or missing teeth, dentures are not necessarily your only option. A clinical assessment can establish what’s possible in your particular case and whether full mouth dental implants could be right for you.
A free clinical assessment can help you understand your options. If full mouth dental implants could work for you, we’ll explain what we recommend and why, so you have the information you need to decide what happens next.
