How is periodontal disease assessed?

The assessment of periodontal disease primarily relies on probing depths and clinical attachment levels because these methods provide quantitative measures of periodontal health. Probing involves using a dental tool to measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth, which helps determine the presence and severity of gum disease. Clinical attachment levels are also evaluated to assess how much of the tooth's supporting structure is remaining, indicating the extent of tissue loss due to periodontal disease.

These measurements are critical in identifying not only the current state of periodontal health but also the progression of the disease over time, allowing for proper treatment planning and monitoring. While additional methods, such as X-rays and visual inspections, are valuable components of a comprehensive periodontal examination, they do not provide the detailed information necessary to assess the extent of periodontal tissue destruction as effectively as probing depths and clinical attachment levels do. Self-reported symptoms can be subjective and may not accurately reflect the clinical condition, making them less reliable for assessment purposes.