When our patients visit our office for their regular hygiene cleaning and examination every six months, their main concern is to check on the status of their teeth and learn if they are suffering from any tooth decay. While that is a valid concern, as tooth decay can lead to a number of costly issues, we also examine for the development of another disease that can cause just as many concerns – Gum Disease. This condition affects more than half of the American population, most of whom are unaware that they have this periodontal disease.