While you may think that some loss of teeth is inevitable with aging, it is actually possible for all of your teeth to last a lifetime. One of the ways you can achieve this goal is to avoid periodontal disease (peri around; odont tooth), which is caused by bacteria that attack the tissues around the teeth. Unfortunately, you may not even realize you have gum disease as the signs and symptoms are not always as apparent to you as they are to a dental professional.

Nearly all people who do not maintain good daily oral hygiene will develop gingivitis. If left untreated, this bacterial gum infection can progress from gingivitis (gingival gum; itis inflammation) to periodontitis, which results in bone loss around your teeth. As the bone tissue is lost, the gum tissues detach from the teeth and form little pockets that provide an even better place for bacteria to live where your brush and floss can't reach. As periodontal disease advances leading to more bone loss, tooth loss can result. Part of this has to do with genetics, as periodontal disease tends to run in families. The good news is that periodontal disease can be controlled, even at more advanced stages.

It is not a given that we must lose teeth as we age. If we maintain good oral hygiene and have regular professional cleanings and oral examinations, chances are we can keep our natural teeth for life. That involves not only caring for the teeth themselves, but also the structures that surround them: the gums and tooth-supporting bone. Gum disease, which is a bacterial infection, threatens these supporting tissues. That is why dental professionals are always on the lookout for early signs that patients may not notice. When signs of trouble become apparent, periodontal therapy may be suggested.

All periodontal therapy starts with the evaluation of your oral hygiene techniques and instruction for improving them, followed by the mechanical removal of plaque and any calcified deposits (tartar or calculus) that are present on the root surfaces. This is accomplished with a cleaning technique known as scaling, root planing or debridement using hand instruments and/or ultrasonic (high frequency vibrational) instruments. Locally applied antimicrobial products or antibiotics might also be recommended during various parts of periodontal treatment to assist in healing and pocket-depth reduction, hopefully eliminating the need for periodontal surgery. Sometimes surgical procedures may be necessary to remove the deep pockets that form between inflamed gum tissue and teeth. There are many different types of surgery to handle a variety of problems. And many times, combinations of procedures are used to attempt to reduce the number of surgeries as well as the cost of treatment.

Periodontal therapy can take various forms but the goal is always to restore diseased tissues to health. Periodontal disease is not curable and is similar to heart disease and diabetes in that we can establish a state of health and then the maintenance phase is critical to retaining the tissues in a healthy state. This maintenance phase is a collaboration between our office and our patients in which we create a consistent and frequent recall schedule, usually every 3-4 months to clean your teeth and gums and reinforce your oral home care.

Periodontal disease, as noted above, progresses in stages. In order to prevent the onset or progression of periodontal disease, you should visit a periodontist at the recommendation of your dentist or if you experiencing any of the common symptoms of periodontitis.

However, it is important to understand that you can have periodontal disease with no obvious symptoms, especially if you are a smoker (nicotine reduces blood supply preventing bleeding and swelling of the gum tissues). In fact, almost 50% of American adults over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Some of the most common symptoms of periodontal disease include:

Dental plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease, so it's essential to remove it every day with effective brushing and flossing. This doesn't mean scrubbing, which can actually cause your gums to recede. Proper techniques can be demonstrated for you, if you have any questions.

Of course, there are some areas of the mouth that a toothbrush and floss just can't reach, which is why it's so important to have regular professional cleanings at the dental office. Your regular dental exam is also a time when early signs of gum disease can be detected before they become apparent even to you.

The best way to prevent periodontal disease is to brush and floss your teeth effectively every day. Regular dental checkups and professional cleanings every 3 or 4 or 6 months are also an important part of maintaining periodontal health; the instruments and techniques used in these cleanings can reach into areas that your toothbrush and floss can't.

It is also possible to detect early forms of gum disease by evaluating your gingival (gum) tissues, both visually and by examining their attachment levels to the teeth. And the health of your tooth-supporting bone can be assessed by taking dental radiographs (x-rays pictures).

When you are a child, your first loose tooth can be cause for celebration; when you are an adult, it definitely is not. Biting and chewing with a tooth that is not securely attached in its socket can be difficult or even painful and any tooth that becomes loose is at risk of needing to be removed or, at worst, falling out. It's often possible to prevent that from happening, but quick action is required.

The most common reason for tooth looseness is periodontal disease a bacterial infection of the gum and/or bone tissues that surround and support your teeth. The infection results from bacterial plaque that sits on your teeth in the absence of effective oral hygiene. Over time, periodontal disease will cause gum tissue to detach from the teeth as plaque and tartar formation increases and tooth-supporting bone is lost. As more bone is lost, teeth gradually become loose and are unable to withstand normal biting forces. If severe periodontal disease remains untreated, loose teeth will eventually fall out.

Another common contributor to the loosening of teeth is a clenching or grinding habit that generates too much biting force. This force can stretch the periodontal ligaments that join the teeth to the supporting bone, making your teeth looser. These habits can accelerate bone loss and also cause jaw pain and excessive tooth wear.

To control gum disease, a dental professional must thoroughly clean the teeth of plaque and harder deposits (tartar or calculus) in which bacteria thrive; this includes the tooth-root surfaces beneath the gum line. At the same visit, you will be instructed on effective oral hygiene techniques and products to use at home. Often this type of deep cleaning, combined with improved oral hygiene, will reduce inflammation and heal the gums enough to cause some tightening of the teeth.

The mechanical approach involves modifying the forces that are applied to the teeth. This can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, an occlusal (bite) adjustment can be performed by carefully reshaping minute amounts of tooth surface enamel. This changes the way upper and lower teeth contact each other, redirecting and lessening the force. Replacing broken fillings and restoring worn teeth is also sometimes needed to create a more balanced bite, even when teeth are not loose.

It is also possible to reduce stresses on teeth by temporarily or permanently splinting them together like fence pickets so that any biting force is distributed among groups of teeth rather than individual loosened teeth. The splint is a very small metal bracket bonded to the backs of or tops of the teeth.

If clenching or grinding habits are a problem, a custom-made bite guard (also called an occlusal splint) can be worn when needed. Placed in the mouth at night or in times of stress, it can protect the teeth from the consequences of too much biting force. This can also be helpful in preventing excessive tooth wear, and sometimes in relieving jaw pain.

Loose teeth can be successfully treated with both biological and mechanical techniques. A thorough examination will be needed to determine the best approach. So if you are experiencing tooth looseness, don't wait the sooner this problem is addressed, the more likely you are to keep your natural teeth.

Periodontal disease starts in your mouth but has actually been linked to more serious conditions, such as cardio-vascular disease (CVD), diabetes and preterm births. Research has suggested two plausible mechanisms for how gum disease and these other serious medical concerns could be related: moderate to severe periodontal disease increases the level of systemic (bodily) inflammation a characteristic of all chronic inflammatory diseases.

Also, the same bacterial strains that are commonly found in periodontal pockets surrounding diseased teeth have been found in blood vessel plaques of individuals with CVD. The illustration below shows how bacteria from inflamed gums can enter the blood stream and affect other organs such as the heart and brain. Studies continue to reveal new connections between periodontal disease and overall health, which continue to confirm that it may be helpful to reduce periodontal inflammation in order to reduce systemic inflammation.

After studying all of the specialized aspects of dentistry while in dental school, at the University of Maryland from 1982-1986, Dr. Gold concluded that the specialty of Periodontics and Implantology provides the foundation upon which all other dentistry is built and decided to continue her studies at the University of Pennsylvania Postdoctoral program in Periodontics. She completed her specialty training in 1988, during which time she published an article in the Compendium for Dental Education, a national journal, and carried out research in the field of regenerating bone lost form periodontal disease.

Since graduating in 1988, Dr. Gold has maintained a private practice of Periodontics and Implantology, taught as a Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland Dental School and at Shoreline Dental Hygiene School. She has also been a guest lecturer in Washington, Maryland, and internationally.

I believe that when it comes to your health, what you DONT know can hurt you. Therefore, a very important aspect of my job it to provide information to the patients to help them choose among the many periodontal and implant treatments available which best suits their needs.

My vision is to inform as many people as possible that given proper care, it is possible to keep your teeth for a lifetime. My vision is to provide a periodontal and implant practice that is warm, comforting, informative, and where patients enjoy visiting for their treatment.

I want patients to feel nurtured, relaxed, and heard when they receive care in our office. My goal is for patients to leave here knowing that they received the best periodontal and implant care possible and they would be proud to refer friends and family to our office.

Dr. Amir Emam started his academic career at Washington State University graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in Fine Arts and a Bachelors of Science in Biology. Dr. Emam graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago, with his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1999. He had a private dental practice for 14 years in Arizona for 14 years where he was also an adjunct faculty at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health.

Dr. Emam came back to the Pacific NW to attend the University of Washington 3 year Postdoctoral and Masters Specialty Degree in Periodontics. Dr. Emam's experience with addressing all aspects of patient care and his commitment to always expanding his knowledge makes him a great new addition to the team.

Welcome to the office of Dr. Beth Gold and Dr. Amir Emam, periodontists and dental implant specialists in Marysville, WA. To maintain the standards of excellence our patients deserve, all of the professionals at our office maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in periodontics and implant care. Each member of the team has diverse experience in the dental field and is committed to supporting our patients in every possible way.

Our hygiene team consists of a diverse group of extremely capable women. Two of our hygienists have a combined experience working with periodontal patients for over 35 years. Our newest hygiene team members bring a fresh perspective to current practices and excitement for the experience to work with a new group of patients and team members. They are each committed to their profession and eager to continually update their knowledge and skills by learning all of the newest advances in periodontal care. Each hygienist provides their unique way of taking care of the patients and what they share is their desire to make each patients experience a comfortable and pleasant one, with efficiency and professionalism.

Adela attended dental hygiene school in Yakima Washington and she has been working with Dr. Gold for 18 years. Adela has experience working in both general dental and periodontal offices which has given her a multi-dimensional perspective of general and periodontal treatment. Adela's professionalism, gentleness, competence, and caring are obvious in the way that she treats our patients and her capable hands are highly valued as part of our team.

Libby began her career in dentistry as a dental assistant in 2000. She first worked as an assistant in general dentistry and then as an oral surgery assistant for another 4 years. She decided that she wanted to further her education and went to Shoreline Community college and received her dental hygiene degree in 2017. Libby began working with Dr. Gold shortly after graduation and brings with her a well-rounded understanding of all aspects of dentistry. LIbby's great smile matches her friendly personality and her various roles in providing patient care makes her an emapthetic, conscientious hygienist.

Jodi attended Dental hygiene school in Vancouver, Washington and began her career as a hygienist with Dr. Gold 28 years ago. Jodi's commitment to her profession and her abilities are obvious in her gentle, nurturing and comforting manner. Our patients' needs are Jodi's main priority and her years of experience have given Jodi a perspective of periodontal care, that makes her an invaluable part of our team.

We know that sometimes the most challenging part of periodontal and implant care is coordinating all of the treatment information and the financial aspects of helping patients to afford treatment, as well as maximizing any insurance benefits, without compromising the treatment that is needed. Therefore, the administrative staff working with Dr. Gold is comprised of professionals, each specializing in a certain aspect of patient care, so that the experience is as simple, convenient, and as painless as possible.

We welcome your involvement in your care so each administrative staff member has an individual e-mail address so that questions or concerns can be addressed with the click of a mouse. We also have the technical capability to send and receive digital images and encrypted communication from your dentist so that treatment information can be relayed between our offices and to insurance companies, quickly, seamlessly and protected.

Bree started her career as a Dental Assistant with a mission to help others feel confident in their smile. After 5 years working chair-side, she realized that although she loved helping patients feel comfortable and confident with their care, she wanted to do more. Bree found herself intrigued in the administration aspect of the dental practice. In 2016 she transitioned to the administrative side of dentistry and quickly found herself in business management. After over 4 years of expanding her education with various insurance companies, billing strategies, dental care philosophies, AADOM training, and building a patient first mindset, she found herself at Dr. Gold's office. She strives to make each patient feel welcome and leave knowing they are in great hands.

Alyse has been a dental assistant for 13 years, 12 of which have been working with Dr. Gold. Alyse's genuine interest and focus on patients' needs and concerns, help to comfort even the most anxious of patients. Alyse's friendliness, competence, and expertise help to reassure and educate patients about their treatment. Her dedication to the vision and goals of the office are invaluable assets to the entire team.

Kaylah has been working as a dental assistant since 2018. She joined Dr. Gold's team in 2020. Kaylah's easy going personality, experience, and knowledge of dentistry make her a valuable asset to the patients, the Doctor and the team. Her lively personality and dedication to helping everyone anytime that she can, makes her a valiuable team member.

Megan first came to the office as an intern for 4 months from SnoIsle Tech dental assisting class, where our team was able to see her focus, efficiency, and work ethic. Therefore, after she graduated in 2018, Megan became part of Dr. Gold's team, helping our office to run smoothly. She is responsible for assisting our hygienists, and keeping all of our instruments sterilized and ready for use. Megan's loyalty and trustworthiness provides her with a quiet confidence, on which our whole team relies.

Rachel has been working as a dental assistant in the field of dentistry for over 30 years. Much of her career was in general dentistry, with the past 5 years working with Dr. Gold. Rachel's competence, experience, and knowledge of all aspects of dentistry make her a valuable asset to the patients, the Doctor and the team.. Her big smile and contagious laugh help to make people smile, which is always a good stress reliever.