Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is diagnosed by your dentist or dental hygienist during a periodontal examination, which should always be part of your regular dental check-up.

A periodontal probe, a small dental instrument, is gently used to measure the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and the gums. A healthy sulcus measures three millimeters or less and does not bleed. The probe helps determine if pockets are deeper than three millimeters, which typically indicates progression of periodontal disease.

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Your dentist or hygienist will use pocket depths, bleeding, inflammation, tooth mobility, and other indicators to make a diagnosis, which may fall into one of the following categories:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. Plaque and its toxins irritate the gums, making them tender, inflamed, and likely to bleed.

Periodontitis

Plaque hardens into calculus (tartar). As plaque and calculus build up, the gums recede from the teeth, forming deeper pockets filled with bacteria and pus. The gums become irritated, inflamed, and bleed easily. Slight to moderate bone loss may be present.

Advanced Periodontitis

The teeth lose more support as the gums, bone, and periodontal ligament are destroyed. If untreated, affected teeth may become very loose and may be lost. Generalized moderate to severe bone loss may be present.