Periodontal Disease Diagnosis

Your dentist or dental hygienist will identify periodontal disease during a periodontal examination. Your routine dental check-up should always include this kind of examination.The sulcus, or pocket or space between the tooth and the gums, is measured gently using a periodontal probe, a small dental device.

A healthy sulcus has a depth of three millimetres or less and is bleeding-free. If pockets are deeper than three millimetres, the periodontal probe can help identify them. The pockets typically deepen when the periodontal disease gets worse.

The following categories of diagnoses will be made by your dentist or hygienist using information about the depth of your pockets, the amount of bleeding, swelling, tooth mobility, etc.

Gingivitis

The early stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis. The gums get irritated by plaque and its toxic byproducts, which makes them brittle, inflammatory, and prone to bleeding.

Periodontitis

Calculus (tartar) forms as plaque hardens. The gums start to pull away from the teeth as plaque and calculus continue to accumulate on them. Between the gums and teeth, larger pockets develop and fill with pus and bacteria. The gums become readily inflamed, irritated, and bleed. There may be slight to significant bone loss.

Chronic Periodontitis

As the gums, bone, and periodontal ligament continue to deteriorate, the teeth become less stable. Without treatment, the compromised teeth will become highly brittle and may even fall off. There could be generalised mild-to-severe bone loss.