Sophia C. Kladias, DMD
Complete Health Dentistry
for Adults and Children

Diagnosis

Periodontal disease is diagnosed during a periodontal examination.  This type of exam should always be part of your regular dental check-up.

A periodontal probe (small dental instrument) is gently used to measure the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and the gums.  The depth of a healthy sulcus measures three millimeters or less and does not bleed.  The periodontal probe helps indicate if pockets are deeper than three millimeters.  As periodontal disease progresses, the pockets usually get deeper.

Dr. Kladias 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 irritate the gums, making them tender, inflamed, and likely to bleed.

Periodontitis

Plaque hardens into calculus (tartar).  As calculus and plaque continue to build up, the gums begin to recede from the teeth.  Deeper pockets form between the gums and teeth and become filled with bacteria and pus.  The gums become very 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 continue to be destroyed.  Unless treated, the affected teeth will become very loose and may be lost.  Generalized moderate to severe bone loss may be present.


NEW! We also offer innovative salivary diagnostic tests from OralDNA® Labs:

MyPerioPath® -Determines the cause of periodontal infections. Identifies the type and concentration of specific perio-pathogenic bacteria that are known to cause periodontal disease.

MyPerioID® PST® - Determines who is at increased risk for severe periodontal infections. Identifies individual genetic susceptibility to periodontal disease and enables the clinician to establish which patients are at increased risk for more severe periodontal infections due to an exaggerated immune response.

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