Best New Mexico Periodontists

Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth material, which includes: Enamel-the hard outer surface of the toothDentin-the second softer layer beneath the enamelPulp-the inside of the tooth containing the nerve and blood supplyRoot-the area of the tooth anchoring it in the bone

Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is a sac of pus (infected material) in a tooth or the gums. There are two types of tooth abscesses: Abscess of the pulp (blood and nerve supply inside the tooth)Abscess between the tooth and gum

Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a mild, often reversible form of gum disease. In gingivitis, there is inflammation of the gum tissue, which surrounds the teeth. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to a serious condition called periodontitis (inflammation of the support tissue and bone).

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is a group of genetic disorders that affects movement and sensation in the limbs. The disease progresses slowly and causes damage to the peripheral nerves that control muscles and transmit sensation.

Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disorder caused by autoimmune distruction of the insulin secreting cells of the pancreas resulting in the body's inability to produce sufficient insulin to meet bodily needs. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows the body to use sugar for energy. Without insulin, glucose (sugar) from the carbohydrate food you eat cannot enter cells. This causes glucose to build up in the blood, leaving your body cells and tissues starved for energy. While a variety of tissue transplantation techniques are under development and some genetically-based treatments have been proposed, at this point in time, the only widely-available treatment for type 1 diabetes is the injection of insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes
Related Media: Diabetes - Your Management Plan

Type 2 Diabetes is primarily a disorder in which the cells in the body are not responding to the high levels of insulin circulating in the body. The body becomes increasingly resistant to insulin. In end-stage type 2 diabetes, the beta cells of the pancreas are not producing enough insulin.

In Her Own Words: Living With Type 1 Diabetes


Tobacco Use Disorder
Tobacco use disorder occurs when the use of tobacco harms a person's health or social functioning, or when a person becomes dependent on tobacco. Tobacco may be consumed in the form of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products (eg, snuff, chewing tobacco), cigars, or pipes.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness in infants and children. It is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. It occurs in warmer months and is transmitted primarily between humans by direct contact with secretions from the nose and throat, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the feces of those who have HFMD.

Impacted Tooth
An impacted tooth is a tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue so that it is unlikely to fully erupt through the gums to reach its normal position in the mouth.