If you had gum disease, you would know—wouldn’t you? It’s common to assume that, if you had an infection in your gums, you would be aware of the problem. The truth is that, gum disease is a progressive infection that has the potential to cause quite a bit of damage, even before you are able to notice the first symptom. That’s why dentists in Anderson SC rely on very specific guidelines to diagnose gum disease as early as possible, rather than waiting for the first noticeable symptoms to appear.
The Irreversible Dental Disease
When it comes to diagnosing gum disease, dentists know that time is of the essence. Gum disease, technically known as periodontal disease, represents the destruction the tissues and ligaments that support your teeth. Once these delicate tissues have been infected, damaged, or destroyed, the harm cannot be undone. As a result, many adults will face the tragedy of tooth loss if the proper treatment is not provided as quickly as possible.
What are the Stages of Gum Disease?
Stage I: Inflamed gums, slight bleeding.
Stage II: Increased inflammation, increased bleeding, gum tissue begins to pull away from the tooth root.
Stage III: Moderate inflammation, gum tissue continues to separate from the tooth root, bone destruction begins.
Stage IV: Chronic inflammation, pocket forms between gum tissue and tooth root, connective ligaments destroyed, bone destruction undermines tooth stability.
Stage V: Immune resistance is suppressed, tooth loss.
What about the Pain?
It is true that pain can typically indicate the presence of a problem or an infection in the body, but this is not necessarily true with dental infections like gum disease. As you can see, symptoms like pain, bleeding, bad breath, and stains are not always good indicators for determining the presence or severity of gum disease. For the most accurate diagnosis and to effectively prevent the infection from spreading, contact a dentist in Anderson for a thorough examination today.
