Periodontal disease is diagnosed by your dentist or dental hygienist during a periodontal examination. This type of exam should always be part of your regular dental check-up.
A periodontal probe is gently used to measure the pocket or space between the tooth and the gums. The depth of a healthy sulcus measures 1-3mm and does note bleed. The periodontal probe helps indicate if pockets are deeper than 3mm. As periodontal disease progresses, the pockets usually get deeper.
You hygienist or dentist will use pocket depths, amount of bleeding, inflammation, tooth mobility, etc, to make a diagnosis that will fall into a category below:
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. Plaque and its toxin by-products irriate the gums and cause them to swell, be tender and bleed.
Periodontitis
Plaque that isn’t removed from the tooth will harden to a rock like substance called tartar or calculus. As this tartar grows it will invade the areas in between the teeth or below the gumline and release a toxin that destroys the gum’s attachment to the tooth and the bone around the tooth. Pockets greater than 3mm are present. Also some recession may be present, along with inflammation and bleeding. This infection in the gums is usually painless.
Advanced Periodontitis
As the bacteria and toxins inhabit the area below the gum they continue to grow and multiple creating deeper pockets, 6mm or more, and advanced bone loss. There is often an odor associated with this disease, along with inflammation, bleeding and recession.
Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the type and severity of the disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist will evaluate for periodontal disease and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Periodontal disease progresses as the pocket between the tooth and the gums gets filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar, causing irritation to the surrounding tissues. When these irritants remain in the pocket space, they can cause damage to the gums and bone that supports the teeth.
If the disease has progressed to more advanced stages, a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planning or deep cleaning is indicated. It is usually done one or two quadrants of the mouth at a time while the gums are numb. In this procedure tartar, plaque and toxins are removed from above and below the gumline, and rough spots on the roots are made smooth so that the gum tissue will reattach to the root and cause the pockets to decrease. There is the ability to utilize laser therapy to improve gum tissue health and this can be incorporated into any hygiene procedure. There are special tools that may be recommended to help keep the teeth clean after the root planning..
If the pockets do not heal after scaling and root planning, periodontal surgery may be required to reduce the pocket depths, making the teeth easier to keep clean in the future.
It takes only twenty four hours for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into tartar or calculus. Daily homecare helps control plaque and tartar formation, but those hard to reach areas will also need special attention.
Once your periodontal therapy has been completed, your dentist and hygienist will recommend that you have regular maintenance cleanings up to four times a year. At these cleaning appointments the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy. Plaque and calculus that is difficult for you to remove on a daily basis will be removed from above and below the gumline.
In addition to you periodontal cleaning and evaluation, your appointment will usually include:
Good oral hygiene practices and periodontal cleanings are essential in maintaining dental health and keeping periodontal disease under control.
Regular, preventative care is an affordable choice. Don't wait until it hurts.
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