Dr. Ostad, D.D.S.
Periodontal Disease
Diagnosis
About Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease can be diagnosed during a regular dental examination. Your dentist will perform a careful survey of the appearance of your gums, check each tooth for looseness, and use a probe to identify and measure any spaces, known as pockets, which may have formed between your gums and teeth. In periodontal disease, these pockets will measure more than 3 millimeters (mm) in depth.
Since early symptoms of periodontal disease can be difficult to detect, you should have a regular dental checkup every six months.
Stages and Progression of Periodontal Disease
- 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 the support tissue and bone, a serious condition called periodontitis.
- Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis, the inflammation or infection of the gums is untreated or treatment is delayed. Infection and inflammation spreads from the gums to the ligaments and bone that support the teeth. Loss of support causes the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Periodontitis is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults. This disorder is uncommon in childhood but increases during adolescence.
- Advanced Periodontitis occurs when periodontitis progresses to the advanced stage, the gums severely recede (pull away from the tooth ); pockets deepen and may be filled with pus. There may be swelling around the root and you may experience sensitivity to hot or cold or feel pain when brushing your teeth. This is due to the severely receding gums exposing the root surface.As bone loss increases, your teeth may lose so much support that they need to be removed to preserve the overall health of your mouth.
If you do have periodontal disease, your dentist may need to refer you to a specialist in the treatment of gum disease, called a periodontist.