Many people develop gum (periodontal) disease at some point in their life. Gum disease is a degenerative condition caused by plaque and calculus (tartar), which host harmful bacteria in your mouth. Plaque and calculus need to be removed regularly in order to the prevent buildup of disease-causing bacteria in your mouth. The best way to prevent gum disease from developing is to practice good oral hygiene at home and keep all your regular dental appointments for cleanings and exams.

Gum disease evaluations are performed as part of your comprehensive dental examinations. Also known as gum disease risk assessments, these exams are an opportunity for our dentist to check your gums for any signs of periodontal disease, evaluate your medical history and discuss other factors with you to determine your risk of developing gum disease.

During your periodontal evaluation, our dentist will take measurements around each tooth to find out how much space is between the tooth and the gum, measure any gum recession or loosening of teeth, and check for any signs of inflamed gum tissue. This allows us to determine how likely you are to develop periodontal disease and diagnose the condition when it is in the earliest stages of development and easiest to treat. Most of time the recommended treatment is a deep cleaning and laser gum treatment.

For more information about gum disease evaluations and to schedule your appointment with our dentist, call our office today.