What are the Stages of Periodontal Disease? | Sani Dental Group

Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It’s an inflammatory disease that can have serious effects not only on your oral health but also on your overall well-being.

Understanding what are the stages of periodontal disease is crucial for early detection and effective treatment, which can prevent more complications.

What Is a Periodontal Disease and Its Symptoms?

Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection of the supportive tissues of your teeth, such as the gingival tissue, the alveolar bone, the cementum (the mineralized tissue that covers the root of a tooth), and the periodontal ligament. Unhealthy gums are often the first sign of this condition.

Symptoms of a periodontal disease also include:

• Reddish or purplish gums.

• Bleeding.

• Soreness.

• Bad breath.

• Pain when chewing.

• Gum recession.

• Loose teeth.

• Changes in how your teeth fit together.

Periodontal disease is very common, according to the Cleveland Clinic, almost half of all adults in the United States have some form of gum disease.

If you're already noticing symptoms and wondering, 'is gum disease curable?' Understanding what each stage of periodontal disease entails will provide you with valuable insights, and help you see if you are in one of these stages.

The Stages of Periodontal Disease

1. Gingivitis

The earliest stage of periodontal disease. You may notice your gums become red and puffy and bleed when brushing or flossing. At this stage, there is no dental bone loss, with proper treatment gingivitis is reversible.

2. Mild Periodontitis

In this stage, bacteria has leaked under the gums and will start to affect the supporting bone. Your gums will begin to pull away from your teeth, and pockets will develop around them. This can be risky as bacteria and plaque get inside these pockets.

3. Moderate Periodontitis

If left untreated, bacteria will begin to deteriorate the ligaments, tissues, and bone supporting your teeth. You may notice bad breath, pus around the gum line, and pain.

4. Advanced Periodontitis

In this stage, the disease will be already in its worst state, and there will be advanced bone loss which eventually will cause your teeth to loosen and fall out. 

At this point, you may wonder, “can you reverse periodontal disease?” The simple answer is no; at this stage, the disease is already too advanced to reverse, as you should have already lost bone around your teeth.

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Causes of Periodontal Disease

The main cause of gum disease is the buildup of dental plaque. Plaque contains bacteria that can cause an infection in your gums. When someone has bad oral hygiene, their chances of getting periodontal disease increase significantly.

Other risk factors include:

• Smoking.

• Diabetes.

• Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and Crohn’s disease.

• Hormonal changes.

• Genetics.

• Heart disease.

Complications of Periodontal Disease

If you have noticed signs that you may have gum disease and thought, “how long can you keep your teeth with periodontal disease?” The best thing to do is not wait any longer and get treated as soon as possible.

Periodontal disease will only get worse with time and will continue to deteriorate your oral health until it ends up in tooth loss.

A lot more complications come after losing teeth, such as the shifting of surrounding teeth, difficulties chewing and speaking, and changes in facial appearance.

Treating Periodontal Disease

Treatment for periodontal disease will depend on the severity of your condition and other factors such as your health, your habits, such as smoking, and past treatments.

Some treatments include:

Dental cleaning and improving oral hygiene

If you are in the early stage of gum disease (gingivitis), you can treat it with professional dental cleaning and improve your oral hygiene habits. In this stage, there’s no bone loss yet, so doing this can get rid of harmful bacteria before the disease worsens.

Scaling and root planing

This treatment involves a more thorough dental cleaning, where the dental professional cleans below the gumline, targeting plaque and bacteria in areas that your toothbrush and floss cannot reach.

The procedure includes scraping away plaque from your teeth and then smoothing the root surfaces to prevent bacteria from reattaching. Scaling and root planing is recommended for patients with mild periodontitis.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

This procedure removes plaque and tartar that are so deep under the gums that cannot be reached with a deep cleaning.

The surgery involves making an incision in the gums and creating a flap to move the gums back from the teeth roots. Then, the dental professional will clean the plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the teeth roots and smooth out any rough areas.

This treatment is performed on patients with moderate to advanced gum disease.

Prevention is Key

Dealing with gum disease can be very challenging due to the numerous complications it comes with. This is why prevention is key. If you have any doubts about improving your oral hygiene routine, consult a dental professional for advice on the best toothpaste for gum disease, as well as other products and techniques to maintain your oral health.