Another reason why six-month checkups are beneficial is because your dentist or hygienist might discover periodontal disease right there during the appointment. The examination or treatment might not necessarily occur in the same visit, but once Dr. Andrew C. Dreyer or your hygienist finds the disease, they might suggest scheduling another appointment to examine the situation further.

When your dentist is diagnosing gingivitis, he will use a periodontal probe to gently measure the pocket between the tooth and gums. This will help him indicate if the space in the pocket is deeper than usual, which can identify the disease. Your dentist will also consider the amount of bone loss, bleeding, tooth mobility, and the amount of inflammation to recognize the level of the disease.

There are a few stages of periodontal disease, and those include gingivitis, which is the first stage, early to moderate chronic periodontitis, severe chronic periodontitis, gingival recession, and suffering from missing or non-restorable teeth. We diagnose gum disease in Bakersfield, California, to help treat these symptoms. We would prefer to catch these conditions at an earlier stage, but we are always willing to help our patients no matter what they are going through.

To learn more about diagnosing periodontal disease, call the dental practice of Andrew C. Dreyer, DDS, MS!