Diagnosis

Periodontal disease is diagnosed by your dentist or dental hygienist during a periodontal examination. You should make this type of examination be part of your regular dental check-up.

A periodontal probe (small dental instrument) is used to measure the sulcus (pocket or space) between the gums and teeth. A healthy sulcus measures at a depth of three millimeters or less and does not bleed. The periodontal probe helps to measure and indicate if pockets are deeper than three millimeters. As periodontal disease progresses, the pockets typically get deeper.

Your dentist or hygienist will use inflammation, tooth mobility, pocket depths, amount of bleeding, etc., to make a diagnosis that will fall into a category below:

Advanced Periodontitis

Your teeth can lose more support as the gums, bone, and periodontal ligaments are destroyed. If you do not treat the affected areas, your teeth can become very loose and may be lost. Generalized moderate to severe bone loss may be present.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. Toxins produced by plaque by-products irritate the gums, making them tender, inflamed, and likely to bleed.

Periodontitis

Over time plaque hardens into calculus (tartar). As calculus and plaque continue to increase, the gums begin to recede from the teeth. Deeper pockets form between the gums and teeth and become infected with puss and bacteria. The gums become very irritated, inflamed, and can bleed easily. Slight to moderate bone loss can be present.