IV. PERIODONTAL DISEASE
A Subversive Enemy

Patients are often not aware of this dangerous condition until it is too late. Though less prevalent today than even a generation ago, it has already begun in 60% of American children, over the age of fifteen. In the US, periodontal disease still affects nearly 70 million adults, with serious general health consequence.

Disease causing bacteria are present, even in healthy mouths. Poor oral hygiene allows many of these organisms to excessively multiply and form bacterial colonies, as soft films (plaque) around teeth. If this plaque, at and below the gum tissues, is not soon removed, bacteria calcify into harder, coral-like, colonies (tartar, calculus) of bacteria enabling disease migration into the blood stream...