Periodontal disease affects approximately 80% of adults in the USA and can show up differently across the spectrum. This patient had very little active infection evident, yet a very high susceptibility to losing the tooth attachment to the jaw bone. Visually, the teeth are very clean and the gums are a healthy light pink color – and the teeth appear long due to gum recession.
On X-ray, the green arrows point to bony defects between the teeth – the bone has deteriorated away from the neck of the tooth, and angles into ever-deeper concavities below the gum-line, providing more nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in. Her initial treatment plan consisted of site-specific root planing, wherein each vulnerable tooth was carefully instrumented to remove bacterial deposits. After healing, the charting shows improvement in some areas, and increased bone loss in others.
Using the computerized bite-timing technology of the T-scan, we were able to see what impact the bite has on her tooth mobility. After conservatively reshaping the enamel on select teeth, we improved the balance of the bite, and help dramatically reduce the rate of further bone loss and gum recession.
