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Phone (604) 939-6111
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Periodontal (Gum) Therapy
Structures of the Gum
To View Progress of Gum Disease, Click on Above Picture
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Your Gingiva
Your gingiva (gums) are just as important as your teeth. Its sole purpose is to brace & support the existing dentition (teeth) during forces of mastication (chewing). Without the gingiva, the supporting bone would be under constant attack, resulting in increased bone loss, tooth mobility - and ultimately, tooth loss.
Bacteria infection and trauma are the two most common souces of insult to the gingiva. Fortunately, our bodies and our knowledge about the disease process provide us with tools to effectively neutralize the damaging effects, most of the time.
The above diagram demonstrates how healthy gingiva should look like. The tooth is supported in bone, which is covered by skin (gingiva). There is an important component of the gum structure called the "attached gingiva".
This attached gingiva serves to protect the gum. It seals off the inside structures (e.g. bone, root of tooth) from the outside environment (e.g. bacteria or toxins in the saliva). Very much like a rubber seal between a lid and a glass jar, the attached gingiva serves to seal off the two different environments.
Unfortunately, gum disease (e.g. gingivitis or periodontitis) and/or trauma (e.g. clenching, grinding) can breakdown this seal - resulting in gum recession and tooth loss.
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Copyright 2007. All rights
reserved.
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