Gingivitis Diagnosis

Dentist explaining gum disease to dental patient

Diagnosing Gum Disease

Early detection of the clinical signs of gingivitis is key to preventing the disease¹

Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene but is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis and can eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.¹

Plaque induced gingivitis is defined as inflammation of the gingiva in the absence of clinical attachment loss. Gingivitis may be characterized by the presence of any of the following clinical signs:²

redness and edema of the gingival tissue
bleeding upon provocation
changes in contour and consistency
presence of calculus and/or plaque
no radiographic evidence of crestal bone loss

History Taking

Assessment of your patient’s gum health profile should begin when they first walk into your consulting room – with history taking being an important part of this process.² It’s recommended that you ask open questions at first to allow for unbiased answers, and then move on to more specific questions about their symptoms.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology risk factors include:³

Age – over 70% of Americans 65+ have periodontal disease
Smoking/tobacco use
Genetic susceptibility – family history
Stress
Medications – some drugs e.g. antidepressants and heart medication can affect oral health
Clenching or grinding teeth may speed up progression of destruction of tissues
Poor nutrition/obesity
Systemic diseases e.g. diabetes/CVD

Patient history should include any possible risk factors for periodontal disease

Detailed Periodontal Charting

Radiographs form an essential part of periodontal assessment and diagnosis, and can aid in determining the prognosis of specific teeth. Viewing the morphology of affected teeth and the extent of alveolar bone loss is also important for long-term management of patients impacted by periodontitis.⁴

Radiographic exposures should be:⁴