What Are the 4 Stages of Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease, otherwise known as periodontitis, is a type of gum disease that causes gum inflammation. The problem is relatively easy to treat when detected early. Unfortunately, most people ignore the early stages of the dental disease, which leaves the gum disease to advance to a point where treatment is difficult and expensive. In addition, delaying treatment for periodontitis can put you at risk of getting more severe conditions as built-up bacteria move deeper and cause the bone structure underneath the gums to deteriorate rapidly. We, therefore, prepared this article to help you better understand periodontal disease and its effect in different stages so you can seek early periodontal treatment from a dentist near you.

Stage 1: Gingivitis

Periodontal disease is progressive, and the first stage people go through is gingivitis. Patients in this stage will usually experience bad breath and red, swollen gums. Brushing your teeth may also result in bleeding and discomfort. At this stage, you can easily reverse the effects and spread of periodontitis. So, if you are experiencing any of the early symptoms of gum disease, seek treatment immediately by getting periodontics near you.

Stage 2: Slight Periodontitis

Slight periodontitis marks the second stage of periodontal disease, where the condition is not reversible but still manageable. You can tell that your gum disease has reached this stage if you start experiencing bleeding, swelling, and redness of the gums without going through pain. We recommend getting treatment while still at this stage. Just because you don’t experience dental pain does not mean the disease is not severe. This is the stage where the infection starts spreading below the gum line as it makes its way to the jaw bone tissue.

Stage 3: Moderate Periodontitis

Moderate periodontitis is when periodontal disease has gained more probing depths, and thus more bacteria can start attacking the bones underneath the gum line. If you don’t get diagnosed and treated for gum disease at this stage, the problem will significantly worsen as the bone deteriorates and the infection spreads to your bloodstream.

Stage 4: Advanced Periodontitis

This is the most severe stage of periodontal disease. Patients who have reached this stage will start experiencing tooth loss as the infection damages the dental support structures. Before tooth loss, you will first notice your tooth getting weak and loose. As dental abscess spreads, your gums will become more swollen and inflamed. Eating will become nearly impossible as the slightest pressure applied on teeth when chewing food will cause severe dental pain. You will also experience severe halitosis and risk losing all your teeth if treatment is delayed any longer.

Treating Periodontal Disease

We highly recommend taking preventive measures to ensure you don’t get periodontal disease and only seek treatment. Practice good dental hygiene by regularly brushing and flossing while having regular dental checkups and cleanings. When prevention is no longer an option, look for Periodontics in Palm Beach, FL, for gum disease treatment.

Scaling and Root Planing

This is a non-surgical treatment for gum disease. Your dentist will remove all the plaque and calculus on the surface of your teeth and then smoothen them. It might seem like a simple procedure, but it is highly effective in removing bacteria and provides a clean surface for gums to reattach to teeth. We usually use this treatment during the early stages of periodontitis.

Regenerative Periodontal Treatment

Advanced periodontal disease may require more advanced treatment. Your dentist will first remove all the calculus and clean your gum pockets. Depending on the nature of your problem, a bone graft or soft tissue graft may also be necessary.

Bone grafting is a procedure that uses a synthetic bone or one removed or donated from other parts of the body to replace deteriorated bone structures in the jawbone. Additionally, a soft tissue graft may be helpful where there are thin or receding gums that need reinforcing.

Treatment Through Laser Technology

Later stages of periodontitis may require us to use technologically advanced laser-assisted periodontal treatment. This type of treatment is less invasive than alternative treatment options and has less downtime compared to traditional treatment options. We will carry out an inspection first as the treatment is not suited for everyone.

Conclusion

Periodontal disease is a reversible condition if treatment is administered early. If you notice any signs of swelling or redness in your gums, visit John S. Ledakis, DDS, PA, for diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis. We have advanced dental equipment that will help us to quickly diagnose and treat dental diseases before they cause serious complications.