Diagnosis

Periodontal disease is identified by your dentist or dental hygienist during a routine periodontal examination, which should be an integral part of your regular dental check-ups.

During this examination, a small dental tool called a periodontal probe is used to measure the sulcus—the space between the tooth and the gums. A healthy sulcus has a depth of three millimetres or less and does not bleed. The probe helps to determine if the pockets are deeper than three millimetres, which can be a sign of progressing periodontal disease. As the disease advances, these pockets typically become deeper.

To diagnose periodontal disease, your dentist or hygienist considers several factors, such as pocket depths, bleeding severity, inflammation, and tooth mobility. Based on these observations, the diagnosis will fall into one of the following categories:

Gingivitis:

This initial stage of periodontal disease involves gum irritation due to plaque and its toxic by-products. The gums become tender, inflamed, and prone to bleeding.

Periodontitis:

At this stage, plaque turns into calculus (tartar). Continued buildup of calculus and plaque causes the gums to recede from the teeth. Pockets deepen between the gums and teeth, filling with bacteria and pus. The gums become significantly irritated and inflamed, bleeding easily, with slight to moderate bone loss possibly occurring.

Advanced Periodontitis:

In this advanced stage, the gums, bone, and periodontal ligament continue to deteriorate, leading to less support for the teeth. Without treatment, the affected teeth may become extremely loose and potentially lost. This stage is often accompanied by generalized moderate to severe bone loss.