How is Gingivitis Detected?
Introduction
Gingivitis is a type of gum disease. It causes swelling and irritation and also redness of your gum. It is a mild form of illness but, if ignored, can lead to issues like tooth loss.
What leads to gingivitis?
Are you neglecting your oral health?
How is gingivitis identified?
In this blog, we will cover gingivitis diagnosis. Since such health issues are becoming common, consider investing in a health insurance so that you do not face any financial issues while treatment.
Diagnosis of Gingivitis
Dentists typically diagnose gingivitis through a few key steps:
- Checking Your History: Dentists start by going over your dental and medical history. They ask about any conditions or habits that might be linked to your symptoms.
- Oral Examination: Dentists then look closely at your teeth, gums, mouth and tongue to search for signs of plaque buildup and inflammation.
- Measuring Pocket Depth: They measure the depth of the space between your gums and teeth by using a dental probe. In a healthy mouth, this space usually measures between 1 and 3 millimetres. Deeper pockets, over 4 mm, could indicate gum disease.
- Dental X-rays: Dentists may take x-rays in areas with deeper pockets to check for bone loss. This helps them see if there’s been any damage to the bone that supports your teeth.
- Additional Tests: If the cause of your gingivitis remains uncertain, your dentist may propose additional tests or advise a medical evaluation to investigate potential underlying health conditions. In instances of advanced gum disease, a referral to a periodontist, a specialist in gum disease, may be arranged.
Conclusion
In this blog, we understand the process of gingivitis diagnosis. Your dentist will do an oral examination of your teeth and measure your pocket depth and dental x-rays. Some other tests may be required, too, depending upon circumstances. Such health issues can impact you financially, so it is always a wise choice to invest in health insurance plans.