At this stage, plaque spreads to the roots of the teeth and infection occurs, which in turn damages the supporting bone and tissue. If left untreated, gums separate from teeth and recede, causing a pocket to form below the gum line and trap more plaque and food, which speeds up the process. This is where most people start wishing they'd been more diligent about preventive measures. Advanced Periodontitis is where your head falls off. Infection at this stage destroys the bone and fiber supporting your teeth.
Gums recede even more, causing teeth to loosen and shift.
Your bite can change, and loose teeth can fall out. We test for gum disease by using a little probe that measures the depth of the space between your tooth and the gum. The deeper the depth, the greater the infection. If it looks as though you may have gum disease, we'll use X-rays to confirm our diagnosis. When you come in for a cleaning, we'll show you how to prevent gum disease.