Think You Have Periodontal Disease? How to Be Properly Diagnosed

According to the ADA, brushing your teeth and flossing are two of the most important things for your oral health. If you tender or bleeding gums, you may immediately think that you have periodontal disease. As one of the most common oral conditions, studies show that nearly 50% of the American adult population suffers from some form of periodontal disease. However, just because you have bleeding or sensitive gums, it doesn’t mean that you suffer from periodontal disease. In fact, hormones and stress alone can cause an increase in blood flow to the mouth. This can result in bleeding, swollen, and tender gums.

As a part of any routine dental examination, your dentist or hygienist will perform a periodontal examination.

What Is a Periodontal Examination?

When you’re sitting in the dentist chair with a hand or two in your mouth, the last thing you’re able to focus on is what procedure they are doing and why. A periodontal exam should be done every six months to analyze pocket depths, inflammation, tooth mobility, and the amount of bleeding from your gums to make a proper diagnosis.

During your examination, a small periodontal probe is used to gently measure the space between the tooth and gums. If your gums are healthy, the space between your tooth and gums will measure at 3mm or less and won’t bleed. If the probe measures an area that’s larger than 3mm, you may be diagnosed with a form of periodontal disease.

There are three stages of periodontal disease including gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. Luckily, during each of these three stages, Dr. Steven Holbrook can treat them and get your mouth on the road toward recovery.

Schedule a Consultation

To learn more about periodontal disease or schedule your next dental cleaning with Dr. Holbrook call (505) 881-1159