There are three stages of periodontal (gum) disease: gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. The earliest stage is gingivitis, where the gums appear to be red and mildly inflamed — they may also bleed when you’re brushing and flossing. If caught early on, Dr. Stockdale can restore the health of your gums with a simple scaling and root planing procedure.
Periodontitis is the second stage of gum disease, where your gums begin to separate from your teeth and plaque spreads further. The third stage is advanced periodontitis, which only occurs when gum disease has been completely ignored. At this stage, your teeth, gums, and overall health will face damaging consequences.