Dr. Fortman is a native of Farley, IA. He received his D.D.S. degree in 1971 from the University of Iowa and his Master of Science in Dentistry degree specializing in Periodontics in 1974 from Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He began practicing in Mason City in 1980 and continues his practice at North Iowa Periodontics. Dr. Fortman practiced in Rochester from 1974 to 2011. Dr. Fortman is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, the Midwest Society of Periodontology, the Iowa Society of Periodontology as well as the American Dental Association, and the Iowa Dental Association. He is also a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. Dr. Fortman makes his home in Rochester, MN with his wife Barbara. He has two sons and five grandchildren. He also has a daughter who is a graduate of the University of Iowa, She is currently a student at Wingate University in North Carolina studying Physical Therapy. Dr. Fortman and his daughter share the love of the Hawkeyes.

We are so fortunate to have DeAnne at our front desk! DeAnne has a vast dental background and is happy to help you plan your treatment. Please call or email DeAnne with any questions you may have regarding your treatment, scheduling or financial questions. During the summer weekends, you can find DeAnne and her husband with their two dogs in Waterville, MN at their camper. DeAnne loves spending time with her two grown children, decorating and playing with her dogs.

Courtney works with Dr. Fortman and our patients assisting them through their periodontal treatment. The wellbeing of each of our patients is Courtneys #1 goal. Questions regarding your treatment can be directed to Courtney using the above link. Between sports and music concerts, Courtney is a very busy mom. She has two daughters we like to refer to as Mini Mes.

Payton is the first smile you will see when you enter our office! She travels from Osage, IA to work at North Iowa Periodontics. Payton is delighted to assist our patients before, during, and after periodontal therapy. Questions for Payton can be sent using the above link. Even though you will most likely find Payton working with our patients in the front office, she is also a Dental Assistant and can occasionally be seen in the clinical area. When Payton is not at work she is being mom to Louie, her labradoodle puppy. She is also in the process of decorating her new home!

Jenna, a dental hygienist, graduated from Mankato State University in Mankato, MN. Jenna enjoys assisting each of our patients to achieve a higher level of health using education as a stepping stone to success. Jenna travels from Lake Mills, IA to work at North Iowa Periodontics. She is the proud mother of two children, a boy and a girl! Jenna is a twin!

Periodontal Disease is a chronic inflammatory infection that if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. When bacteria accumulates below the gum line, it triggers the systemic inflammatory signals. Over time, the inflammatory response to the bacteria can cause infection of the gum tissue and the supporting bone. The tissue will no longer fit snuggly around the teeth. If left untreated, the bacteria will continue to grow and multiply and cause deterioration of the tissue and bone. This causes the teeth to loosen and leads to tooth loss. More importantly, research suggests that periodontal disease may share a link to systemic conditions. Recent studies indicate that periodontal infection may be the connection. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer among others, Dr. Fortman will discuss the importance of oral health pertaining to your specific health condition. Root exposure and a loss of bone and gum tissue and is a form of periodontal disease as well. However, a recession is not always caused by a bacterial infection.

Gingivitis: This is the earliest and most common form of periodontal disease. The gum tissue is red, swollen and bleeds easily. It is important to take this seriously. Bleeding gums are not normal. The tissue needs attention.

Chronic Periodontitis: This is the most destructive form of periodontal disease. There is inflammation and infection within the supporting tissue of the teeth. This causes a pocket between the tissue and the tooth for bacteria to settle. It may appear as if your teeth are getting longer but in reality, the tissue and bone are receding. The progression of this disease usually occurs slowly but a rapid progression can occur as well. Chronic periodontitis occurs more frequently in adults but can occur at any age.

Gum Recession: Recession occurs when the gum tissue that surrounds the tooth and the tooths roots wear or pulls back. This is a form of periodontal disease. However, it may not always be caused by bacteria. It occurs gradually and may cause tooth sensitivity. Besides periodontal disease, a recession may be caused by aggressive brushing, inadequate home oral care, hormonal changes, and tobacco products.

Periodontitis as an indication of systemic disease: Diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease are just a few examples of common systemic conditions that make a patient more susceptible to periodontitis. This form of periodontitis often begins at a young age.

If youre worried you might have gum disease, theres good reason for that. Gum disease affects nearly half of the U.S. adult population. Thats just under 65 million people! Its one of the most common reasons people see the dentist.

Gum disease (known as periodontal disease) has serious consequences for your dental health. Its a chronic condition that can proceed quickly in different people. In the worst cases, it results in teeth that are infected and loose and need to be removed.

We know that bleeding gums is closely connected to how we brush and floss. And most people that I see in the dental practice dont brush and floss enough. But removing plaque is one part of the story. Gum disease is a sign of many other problems throughout the body. If youre suspicious you have gum disease, then these five signs may tell you its time to see the dentist.

Gums should not bleed when you brush and floss. As a general rule, if you arent a routine flosser, bacteria buildup below the gums may cause your gums to bleed each time you brush. This can also spread and cause bleeding when you brush your gums. If the problem persists, the bleeding usually worsens.

Gum swelling, red gums, or sore gums may also accompany bleeding. Tooth sensitivity may occur as well and may be due to gum recession from the infected, bleeding gums. Its common to ask if you should stop flossing when your gums are bleeding. The problem is that if you dont floss, the plaque that causes gingivitis will destroy the fibers that attach your gum tissue to your teeth. This plaque has bacteria that cause the inflammation in your gums.

With gums that bleed, there is much more to consider than just the pain or discomfort associated with the bleeding itself. Even though that is enough for most people to be concerned with, there are more problems that can take place after bleeding has begun if it is related to gum disease.

When your blood is delivering immune cells to exit your tissue, it makes sense that this may make way for other things to enter the bloodstream. If this is the case, harmful bacteria that are formed in the mouth can gain access to your bloodstream and cause a number of problems.

These bacteria bond to platelets in the blood and cause clots, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. If this happens, then a whole host of potential health effects can occur. Gum disease has some serious conditions associated with it. There are strong links with heart attack and stroke. When you see bleeding gums its time to get your dental checkup.

Gums begin to darken from light pink to a deeper red: This shows that more immune-regulated cells are located in the vessels. Gingivitis progresses as the immune response worsens. It signals processes that eat away at the gum tissue. Light, red blood is a sign there is oxygen present. Darker gums show lack of oxygen which is related to types of bacteria that thrive in an oxygen-free environment.

Do your teeth look like they are getting longer? Teeth that appear 'long' may be due to fact that the gums that surround them are receding away. Gum recession is a sign that gum disease is progressing.

When this happens, the depth of the collar of gum tissue around your teeth increases. In later stage gum disease, these pockets become too deep. The problem is that it then becomes difficult to remove the food and debris by brushing and flossing. This causes the pockets to become progressively deeper and the gum disease to worsen.

Unfortunately, to most, gum recession is considered to be a normal part of aging. You may have heard the expression 'long in the tooth' to describe getting older. This refers to how the gum line tends to recede and expose more of the surface of our teeth. But there really is nothing 'normal' about gum recession, and for most of us, it can actually be prevented. So, unless youre inclined to keep things as they are, and embrace gum recession as the well-paid price of wisdom, we can help.

Gum recession is the loss of gum tissue from around the tooth, exposing the root. Measurements are taken along the outer surface of the tooth to gauge how much gum has recessed or migrated over time. Measurements vary per person in the sense that a 4mm reading might be fine in one person but may not be for another. By taking a measurement and keeping track of its progression, we are able to determine different recommendations for taking care of your teeth and get a specialist involved if needed.

Gum Pockets are the space between the gums and teeth. Dentists measure gum pockets by probing or charting to determine the general periodontal or gum health. A probe is placed down in between the tooth and the gums to determine where the attachment of gum starts. This is known as the bottom of the pocket. Hygienists and dentists take six measurements for every tooth to evaluate the health or presence of gum disease. By keeping a record of this year after year we hope to maintain a healthy periodontium and prevent periodontal disease and tooth loss. A normal or healthy range is between 1mm and 3mm, anything higher is indicative of infection and gum disease.

Gum recession or pocketing can lead to tooth sensitivity. In these cases, sensitivity can be a sign of gum disease. Chronically inflamed gum tissue is exposing the root surface of the tooth. This exposed root makes the tooth more susceptible to decay, abfraction (wear in the root surface), tooth sensitivity, and potential tooth loss.

If your blood sugar is high, you may have or be at risk of type 2 diabetes. The link between gum disease and type 2 diabetes is two-directional. People with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of gum disease that progresses faster. Thats why its important for your dentist to know whether you have type 2 diabetes or not.

Try to tie flossing and brushing to meal times or a time that is convenient for your schedule. Floss, then brush your teeth and tongue: (1) when you first wake up, (2) when you first return home from school or work (dont come out of the bathroom until you do), and (3) before bed.

If you do this, advanced calculus (tartar) will never be able to attach to your teeth. Many people say that they think twice a day is enough. Well, what happens if you miss one of those two times? The plaque living in bacteria will then begin to start to grow on the tooth surface in the next eight hours.

OK, if you brush at night, why do you still have to brush in the morning? This is why you should. You are cleaning, not sterilizing your mouth. There are still living organisms in there. Your body is working while you are sleeping, digesting food, growing fingernails, etc. Bacteria performs many processes and plaque forms.

Its not hard to imagine why your gums become infected and bleed now, is it (especially if you do this day in and day out)? But remember that your oral hygiene is one part of gum disease. Bleeding gums and inflammation that occurs in the mouth likely happens elsewhere in the body as well.