The dentist can diagnose this stage of the disease by exploring the depths between the gums and the teeth. If gingivitis is left untreated, the condition will develop into periodontitis. At this stage, the bones and supporting fibers that hold the teeth in place have been irreversibly damaged. The gums begin to form “pockets,” deep, hollow areas around the teeth that trap food, plaque, and bacteria.
The gums will retract and form spaces between the teeth. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent further damage and tooth loss. In this final stage, periodontitis has not been treated and has become advanced periodontitis. The bacteria that were allowed to grow, spread and cause destruction destroyed the connective tissues and bones that support the teeth.
The pockets that formed in the previous stage have become much deeper. Teeth may move or loosen. Loose teeth that move inside the mouth can affect the bite. In this state, aggressive treatment is needed to save the teeth.
The first sign of gum disease is bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth. This often manifests itself in a pinkish tinge on the toothbrush or in bleeding after flossing. You may also notice some blood when you eat foods such as apples. Go to the dentist, as this could be an early sign of gum disease.
This stage requires periodontal surgery or laser periodontal therapy to clean the deep pockets full of bacteria that have formed. If left untreated, stage four periodontal disease causes spacing or gaps between teeth, receding gums, the need for dentures by patients, and other general health problems that can be serious. Advanced periodontitis is the fifth and final phase of gum disease, and during this phase, teeth are likely to be lost or at least loosened without immediate dental intervention. An estimated 1 in 7 adults aged 35 to 44 years old has experienced some phase of gum disease, ranging from bleeding gums to advanced periodontitis.
Like mild periodontal disease, the third stage of periodontal disease (moderate periodontal disease) cannot be reversed. While symptoms can be very mild, it's important to diagnose gum disease at this early stage before it progresses to periodontitis. Moderate periodontal disease is the fourth stage of gum disease and the gums are likely to be retracted and sore. The symptoms of periodontitis worsen as the inflammation spreads and some discomfort may occur.
Therefore, tooth movement is often observed at an early stage in complex periodontitis rather than in simple periodontitis. If you have this type of periodontal disease, you are in a phase where the infection has crossed the first line of defense, the gums, and has begun to attack the ligaments and bone that support your teeth. Gingivitis is the only stage of periodontal disease that is reversible, as it has not yet had time to attack the bones.
