Is periodontitis rare in young adults?

[sandyman]

I believe i am suffering from a mild periodontitis infection. I understand most people with gum disease have in later life, but is it very uncommon for someone who is 18 to a mild form of it?

Also if you don't mind me asking, is Localized aggressive periodontitis the same as mild periodontitis.

Thank you.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Hi,
I don't know the exact prevelance but localized aggressive periodontitis is not common. I tried to google the prevalence and haven't found a good answer. Certainly less than 5% in the 20-30 year old population. This diagnose has a clear genetic background.
The term mild refers to the extent of bone loss. So a patient with localized aggressive periodontist can have mild/moderate/severe bone loss.

 

[sandyman]

Hi,
I don't know the exact prevelance but localized aggressive periodontitis is not common. I tried to google the prevalence and haven't found a good answer. Certainly less than 5% in the 20-30 year old population. This diagnose has a clear genetic background.
The term mild refers to the extent of bone loss. So a patient with localized aggressive periodontist can have mild/moderate/severe bone loss.

Thanks doctor.

Sorry to be a pain, but i just came back from my dentist appointment. He mentioned nothing about periodontitis, just said he saw inflammation and suggested it was from mouth breathing. Would a qualified professional dentist know if i had periodontitis just by looking at it?

 

[letsconnect]

Hi sandyman, one would hope that a qualified dentist would be able to diagnose periodontal conditions. However, occasionally gum problems go undiagnosed (especially when dealing with some NHS dentists who are in a rush). If you are in doubt, you may want to get a second opinion.

 

[comfortdentist]

If he is suspicious of periodontitis then should have probed your gums and evaluated you with radiographs.

 

[sandyman]

Well, whatever it is I've been using corsodyl for two weeks now. The swellings gone down, and the pain (which is only there if i press hard down on it) has reduced slightly. As long as it isn't going getting worse, i won't get a second opinion. My dentist is private no NHS so i will trust him.

Thanks for the help.

 

[rosie28]

Sandyman if you don't mind me asking did you find that your teeth surrounding the infected gum area were sore as well? I have a similar problem and I thought it was my tooth causing the pain but the dentist told me my tooth is fine and its all in the gums.

 

[sandyman]

No problem, my tooth is 100% fine. I can press as hard as possible on it and there is no pain. The is a purple strip between my canine and pre molar. This strip only hurts when pressure is on it. Their is a large pocket at that tooth, but only because the swelling and increased the size of the gum downwards, not that is has lost attatchment. Any think else?

P.S if you said you had something similar may i ask what type of gum infection your dentist said you had?

 

[rosie28]

I went in with a tooth ache and had no idea the pain was actually my gum but I must just be feeling it in my teeth not sure why. He knew it wasn't coming from my tooth because he tapped it and it was fine and he did the usual x rays. He didn't say what type of infection it was he just said I was definitely getting a lot of food stuck between my teeth and when he went to clean my gum it bled a lot which apparently is a sign something is wrong plus it hurt very much. A lot more different to the pain of a general clean. I saw a specialist about a completely seperate issue to do with some jaw pain I have been getting and he took one look and asked if anyone had ever told me I might have gingivitis. I have never been told that before. He booked me in for further extensive x rays and I don't see him again until next week unfortunately which as you can imagine with any kind of pain I think the week is just going to draaaaaag. He gave me a script for antibiotics which I have been on for 3 days now and the pain is still there and when I rang today it was suggested I try a mouth wash. I am from Australia and the mouth wash I have been told to use is Savacol. I hope to goodness it gets rid of this painful/pressure/swollen feeling I am getting. Its a really weird feeling to have. I touch the tooth and the area the say is infected with my finger and it hurts and the rest of the time I just have the general sort of numb swollen feeling on that side.