Diagnosis
You are diagnosed with periodontitis during a dental examination by your dentist or dental technician. Such tests should always be part of your routine dental checkup.
A periodontal probe (small dental instrument) is used gently to measure the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and the gums. A healthy sulcus is three millimeters or less in depth and does not produce bleeding. A dental examination helps determine if the pockets are deeper than three millimeters. As arthritis progresses, the pocket tends to deepen.
Your dentist or hygienist will use pocket depth, amount of bleeding, inflammation, tooth mobility, etc. to perform an assessment that falls into the 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.