Periodontal disease affects the structures supporting the teeth — gum tissue, ligament, and bone. It begins with plaque buildup and progresses, if untreated, through inflammation, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss. Bad breath and bleeding gums are often the first signs owners notice, but by that point the damage below the gumline is usually already underway.

Periodontal treatment can’t reverse bone loss — but it can stop it from continuing. Caught before significant bone involvement, most cases can be managed without extraction. Advanced cases can still be treated, though the procedure becomes more involved the longer disease has progressed.