Definition: Periodontal or Gum Disease
April 23, 2010 by Doug Larson
Filed under Dental Health
Stages of Periodontal or Gum Disease
Your home care program and regular office visits can control periodontal/gum disease.
Healthy Gums
A cross section of healthy gums, tooth, and bone.
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Here, gums have a healthy pink color. Gum line hugs the teeth tightly. There is no bleeding on healthy gums. |
 Healthy gum tissue. |
Gingivitis
| Gingivitis gums are inflamed and sensitive to touch. The gums between the teeth may look a bluish-red in color. There may be possible bad breath and/or bad taste. Gums bleed easily when you brush or when gently measured during dental examinations. |
 Notice the red area following the shape of the teeth. |
Early Gum Disease
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During early gum disease gums may begin to pull away from the teeth. Bad breath and bad taste will be present. Gums will have slight horizontal bone loss that can be seen on x-rays. There will be pockets of 3-4mm between the teeth and gums when measurements are done during dental examinations. There is more pronounced bleeding, puffiness and inflammation of the gums. |
 Early periodontal disease. Note the bone loss. |
 Early periodontal disease. The inflamed area of the gum is much wider than the exmaple in gingivitis. |
Moderate Gum Disease
| Gum abscesses may develop. Bad breath and bad taste present. Teeth look longer as gums begin to recede. Front teeth may begin to drift, showing spaces. Both horizontal and vertical bone loss seen on x-ray. Pockets between teeth and gums range from 4-6mm deep when measurements done during dental examinations. |
 Moderate gum disease resulting in gum loss. This occurs after bone loss. |
Advanced Gum Disease
| Gums no longer hold teeth well, teeth may become mobile or loose. Roots may be exposed and are sensitive to hot and cold. Bad breath and bad taste are constant. Severe horizontal and vertical bone loss seen on x-ray. Pockets between teeth and gums are now greater than 5mm deep. |
 Advanced gum disease. A lot of bone loss around the tooth. |
