Shirley H. Bien, DMD

Are Your Roots Showing?

Have you watched a child trying to walk on stilts? They wobble and sometimes fall down. If your tooth is on stilts (has an open furcation), your tooth also wobbles and may fall out.

A furcation is the spot on the tooth where the roots diverge into two or more roots. It is a common condition that begins with periodontal disease. This is a chronic infection that caused your gums to recede and destroyed the jawbone and other supporting structures around your tooth. As the gums receded, a furcation (gap) formed under the tooth where the roots divide away from the body of the tooth.

It is impossible to keep the area clean. A furcation provides decay-causing bacteria and yeast a cozy hiding place to grow.

When periodontal disease reaches this stage, it can be difficult to save the tooth.

In the past, the only treatment was to extract the tooth. Today, we can sometimes use non-surgical procedures to save the tooth and restore your oral health.

We might be able to fill the furcation with a white restoration product that contains fluoride. If necessary, we could also use a tissue regrowing procedure to build up the gum so it covers the roots.

But, what is most important is to get the periodontal disease under control. This disease is unforgiving. Once you have it, you will always have it; so you will need to maintain a rigorous home oral care program after we treat the infection.

Having a happy smile means having good oral health.

Call today if you are experiencing a dental issue, and leave wobbly stilts to kids.