1. By Timothy Gillespie

2.  Serving patients throughout Asheville and
Western North Carolina, Timothy Gillespie, DMD,
undertakes diverse restorative and cosmetic
procedures. Among Dr. Timothy Gillespie’s areas
of expertise are crowns, implants, veneers, and
periodontal treatment.
Caused by bacteria and mucus in the mouth,
periodontal or gum disease involves the buildup
of colorless and sticky plaque residue, which
coats the teeth if they are not regularly brushed
and flossed. When plaque has been on the teeth
too long, it forms hardened tartar, which does
not easily brush off.

3.  Too much plaque and tartar lead to the early
gingivitis stages of periodontal disease. Involving
inflamed gums, gingivitis can typically be
reversed through a combination of dental
cleaning and conscientious daily hygiene.
Untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis,
which results in the inflamed gum pulling away
from the tooth and creating infection-prone
gaps. Ultimately, connective tissues and bone
that keep the tooth’s position fixed can
deteriorate, resulting in a situation where the
tooth needs to be pulled.