Dentistry focuses on diagnosing, preventing, and treating conditions of the teeth, gums, and oral structures, supporting oral health and overall well-being.

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Bleeding Gums: Diagnosis and Evaluation

At Liv Hospital, we use a thorough and careful process to find out why your gums are bleeding. We look closely at the health of your gums and supporting tissues, not just the surface. Our goal is to find the exact cause, whether it is bacteria, your immune system, anatomy, or other health issues. This detailed approach helps us accurately diagnose and plan the best treatment for you.

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The Periodontal Examination: The Diagnostic Core

The clinical periodontal examination is the most critical tool in diagnosing the cause of bleeding.

Periodontal Probing: Mapping the Disease

The periodontal probe is the “stethoscope” of the gum specialist. It is a slender, calibrated instrument with millimeter markings.

  • Pocket Depth Measurement: The clinician walks the probe around the circumference of every tooth, measuring the depth of the gingival sulcus at six specific points (mesio-buccal, mid-buccal, disto-buccal, mesio-lingual, mid-lingual, disto-lingual).
  • Health: 1-3 mm depth with no bleeding.
  • Gingivitis: >3 mm depth due to swelling (pseudopocket) with bleeding, but no attachment loss.
  • Periodontitis: >4 mm depth with actual loss of attachment. Deep pockets (>6 mm) indicate severe disease and serve as anaerobic reservoirs for pathogens.
  • Bleeding on Probing (BOP): This is the most significant indicator of active disease. The clinician records whether bleeding occurs within 30 seconds of probing. Sites with BOP have a much higher risk of future attachment loss than non-bleeding sites. It essentially maps the “hot spots” of inflammation.
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Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) Calculation

Probing depth alone can be misleading if there is gum swelling or recession. CAL is the accurate measure of periodontal support. It is calculated by measuring the distance from the Cemento-Enamel Junction (CEJ), a fixed anatomical landmark, to the base of the pocket. CAL provides the most accurate assessment of how much bone and ligament support has been destroyed over time.

Furcation Analysis

In multi-rooted teeth (molars and premolars), the infection can destroy the bone between the roots, creating a “furcation defect.” A specialized probe (Nabers probe) is used to detect these defects. Furcation involvement complicates treatment because these areas are inaccessible to standard oral hygiene tools.

Mobility and Occlusal Analysis

  • Mobility Grading: Tooth looseness is graded on a scale of 0-3. Class 3 mobility indicates a hopeless prognosis for that tooth and involves vertical movement.
  • Fremitus: The vibration of a tooth when the patient taps their teeth together is checked. This indicates occlusal trauma (biting forces exceeding the periodontium’s adaptive capacity), which can accelerate bone loss in the presence of inflammation.

Radiographic Diagnostics: Seeing the Invisible

  • Imaging is mandatory to visualize the alveolar bone and verify clinical findings.

    • Full Mouth Series (FMX): A complete set of 18-20 intraoral X-rays provides a tooth-by-tooth view of bone levels.
    • Vertical Bitewings: These are preferred over horizontal bitewings for periodontal patients, as they more accurately reflect the crestal bone height relative to the teeth.
    • ** radiographic Interpretation:** The dentist looks for:
    • Pattern of Bone Loss: Horizontal bone loss (even reduction in height) vs. Vertical/Angular bone loss (defects alongside the root).
    • Lamina Dura Integrity: The loss of the white line of bone surrounding the tooth socket is an early radiographic sign of periodontitis.
    • Local Irritants: Subgingival calculus spurs, overhanging restoration margins, and open contacts that trap food.

    Crown-to-Root Ratio: Assessing the ratio of root embedded in bone to tooth exposed, crucial for determining prognosis.

Systemic and Genetic Evaluation

  • Given the bi-directional link between oral and systemic health, the evaluation extends beyond the mouth.

    • Medical History Analysis: A detailed review of the patient’s medical history is conducted to identify risk factors.
    • Diabetes: HbA1c levels are reviewed. Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c >7%) dramatically increases the risk and severity of periodontitis.
    • Cardiovascular Disease: The link between inflammation markers (CRP) and heart health is considered.
    • Medications: Reviewing drugs like calcium channel blockers (nifedipine), anticonvulsants (phenytoin), and immunosuppressants (cyclosporine) that cause drug-induced gingival enlargement.
    • Genetic Susceptibility Testing: For patients with aggressive disease at a young age, tests for specific genetic polymorphisms (like Interleukin-1 genotype) may be performed to assess their innate susceptibility to inflammation.

Microbiological Assessment

  • In cases of refractory periodontitis (a disease that does not respond to standard therapy), identifying the specific bacteria is vital.

    • DNA Analysis: Plaque samples are collected and analyzed using DNA probes to identify the “Red Complex” bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola) and other aggressive pathogens, such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

    Antibiotic Sensitivity: This testing guides the prescription of systemic antibiotics, ensuring the chosen drug targets the patient’s specific bacterial profile.

Gingival Evaluation Parameters

The visual assessment records tissue quality.

  • Biotype: Assessing if the patient has a “thick” or “thin” gingival biotype. Thin biotypes are more prone to recession and bleeding.
  • Attached Gingiva Width: Measuring the amount of keratinized, attached gum tissue. A lack of attached gingiva makes the area more susceptible to inflammation and recession.

Diagnosis Classification

The final diagnosis is categorized based on the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases.

  • Staging (Severity): Stage I (Initial), Stage II (Moderate), Stage III (Severe with potential for additional tooth loss), Stage IV (Severe with potential for loss of dentition).
  • Grading (Rate of Progression): Grade A (Slow), Grade B (Moderate), Grade C (Rapid). This incorporates risk factors like smoking and diabetes.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the difference between a regular cleaning and a periodontal exam?

CT scans use X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images and are excellent for visualizing kidney stones, detecting tumors, and evaluating traumatic injuries. They are fast and widely available. MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissues, making it superior for staging prostate cancer, evaluating bladder wall invasion, and assessing pelvic floor disorders without ionizing radiation.

Contrast dye, usually iodine-based, is injected into a vein to highlight the blood vessels and urinary tract organs. As the kidneys filter the dye from the blood, it opacifies the urine. This allows the radiologist to see the internal structure of the kidneys, the ureters, and the bladder clearly, revealing blockages, tumors, or structural abnormalities that would be invisible on a non-contrast scan.

Multiparametric MRI is an advanced imaging technique that combines standard anatomical sequences with functional sequences like Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced imaging. This provides a comprehensive assessment of the prostate, allowing doctors to distinguish between benign conditions like BPH and significant prostate cancer, and to guide targeted biopsies.

CT scans do involve exposure to ionizing radiation, which carries a small theoretical risk of cellular damage over time. However, modern CT scanners use dose-modulation technology to minimize this exposure to the lowest level necessary for a diagnostic image. The benefit of an accurate and timely diagnosis for serious urological conditions typically far outweighs the minimal risk of radiation.

Many modern orthopedic implants are MRI-safe, although they may cause some image distortion. However, older pacemakers, defibrillators, and certain metal clips may be unsafe in the strong magnetic field. It is critical to inform the imaging team of any metallic implants so they can verify their safety compatibility or recommend an alternative test like a CT scan.

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