Periodontal disease also commonly referred to, as gum disease is frequently the cause for tooth loss in adults.
Gum disease is caused by toxins secreted by bacteria in "plaque" that accumulate over time along the gum line. This plaque is a mixture of food, saliva, and bacteria.
The treatment entirely depends on the severity of the disease. The periodontal treatment involves: non surgical therapy (scaling and root planning, antibiotic treatment, bite correction, splinting) and surgical therapy (flap and bone surgery, gingivectomy, bone grafting, soft tissue grafting)