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Diagnosis
When you go in to see you dentist or hygienist for a regular checkup, they will look for signs of periodontal disease. This is a routine part of every checkup at the dentist's office.
To test for periodontal disease, the hygienist will insert a probe into the space between your tooth and gum, called the "sulcus", and measure the pocket depth. Healthy pockets will measure less than 3 mm deep and show no signs of bleeding. The probe used to check for periodontal disease will indicate deeper pockets if present. This is a possible sign of periodontal disease, since pockets usually get deeper as the disease progresses.
The depth of the sulcus, indications of bleeding or loose teeth, and inflammation are all indicators that the dentist will combine to diagnose the patient with one of the following conditions:
Gingivitis: The beginnings of periodontal disease. Deposited plaque will produce toxins at the gum line that will irritate them and cause them to bleed and become inflamed.
Periodontitis: As the deposited plaque around the gum line begins to harden, it turns into tartar or calculus. When the deposits become heavier, it will displace the gums, forcing them to recede. This allows the pockets around the teeth to deepen, and then fill with more toxic materials. Like gingivitis, these toxins will cause gums to bleed much more easily, and they will get swollen and irritated. There may also be some early signs of bone loss.
Advanced Periodontitis: At this stage the ligaments, gums, and bone that surround and support the tooth are mostly gone or destroyed. Not getting treatment at this point in the disease will cause the patient's teeth to become very loose and likely fall out. In this stage of the disease, bone loss is always present, and may be moderate or severe.
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