Screen For Gum Disease

Screening for gum disease -Periodontal disease or gum disease is the most prevalent oral disease in adult populations worldwide . It is important as it is the primary cause of tooth loss. The most significant thing about gum disease is that early diagnosis and treatment can arrest and heal the gums enabling patients to keep their teeth long term. Late diagnosis and late treatment results in a worse response to treatment. The diagnosis can easily be done with a screening tool called the basic periodontal examination. This is a quick partial screening test which is undertaken by general dentists or periodontists, it links the level of gum disease to the necessary treatment. With this screening tool different areas of the mouth are assigned a score from 0-4 if the score is high the gum disease is worse and patients should be referred on to specialist periodontists for prompt treatment. 

I would encourage people to ask there general dentist to perform a basic periodontal                            examination, in order to pick early warning signs of gum disease.