Gum Disease: Exams And Tests

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Exams and Tests

Your dentist or dental hygienist will examine your gums and teeth for gum disease during regular visits. Using a small mirror and a tool called a probe, your dentist will look for:

• Bleeding gums. The more spots that bleed, the more likely it is that your gum disease is severe.
• Hard mineral deposits (tartar) above and below the gum line.
• Areas where your gums are pulling away from your teeth and pockets that have formed between your teeth and gums. Your dentist or dental hygienist will use the probe to measure the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums to see how deep the pockets are.

Your dentist may insert paper strips into the spaces between your teeth and gums to measure the amount of fluid present. The amount of fluid helps determine how much swelling and inflammation you have.

The dentist or dental hygienist may take X-rays of your teeth to look for bone damage and other problems.

Early Detection

Visiting your dentist or dental hygienist regularly is the best way to detect gum disease before it causes serious damage. Your dentist will determine how often you should be seen based on your risk for gum disease.

Last updated:	August 24, 2007
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC