I am sure you have been to the dentist and they "poke" your gums and shout off numbers. "3,2,4,3,2,3,2,1,2"
And sometimes in-between the "poking" the dentist asks if you are doing okay or maybe they explain what all this data collection means.
Either way if you are like most people - you don't love getting your pocket depths checked. But, why do we dentists need to check your gum health by seemingly "poking them? Let's talk about it.
The image above shows a tooth in the middle supported by gums (colored in pink) and bone (colored in yellow). On the left is an example of "Healthy Gums" and on the right is an example of "Diseased Gums". The striped cylindrical object is called a Periodontal Probe. You can probably appreciate on the left the probe doesn't go as "deep" (closer to the bone) into the gums, whereas on the right the probe goes "deeper".
Plaque VS Calculus
The brown object that is attached to the tooth on the right side of the image is called calculus. When people do not brush or floss as often as recommended, food particles turn into something called plaque. When the plaque has been present for a long time it hardens into a substance called calculus. Calculus that is present under the gums for an extended period of time is what causes periodontal disease, which patient's often notice as loose teeth, bad breath, and bleeding gums.
Okay, So What Are Pocket Depths
Each tooth is surrounded by gums and bone. Healthy teeth have pockets around them. We determine the health of the gums by using a periodontal probe and measuring the pocket that is present. Pocket depths are expressed in millimeters and represent a valuable parameter for gauging gum health and extent of periodontal breakdown.
In the image above the periodontal probe is inserted gently between the tooth and gums. When the periodontal probe cannot proceed any further into the "pocket" we record the number. Healthy numbers range from 1-3 millimeters. Numbers above 3 are indicative of gum inflammation and higher levels of bacteria.
Pocket Depths Cheat Sheet
1-3 mm: This is a pocket depth that is typically viewed as healthy.
4-5 mm: These measurements may be indicative of the beginning stages of gingivitis or swelling of the gums. 5mm is the turning point as we are progressing from gingivitis to periodontitis.
6+ mm: Deep pockets like these indicate a progression of periodontal disease.
How Are The Measurements Used?
Numbers of 5mm and greater are indicative of a more severe disease process at play. When we have deeper pocketing it tells us we need to do what is called a deep cleaning also known as scaling and root planing. The deep in the colloquial name refers to the pockets around the teeth. If you want to learn more about deep cleanings read our blog post that goes into great detail (Click here)!
How Often Does This Need To Be Done?
We recommend checking the pocket depths, also known as periodontal charting, every 12 months. This helps us make sure the treatments we are recommending for home care are working and that your homecare is actually effective. If the pockets are getting deeper - we redirect care and can get on top of the disease process before there are long term negative effects.
Conclusion
The process of checking your gum health where we note the pocket depths is known as periodontal charting. This is a valuable tool we use to determine the health of the supporting structures of your teeth. We use these numbers which are measured in millimeters to determine the type of cleaning you need and the frequency of cleanings. Patients that have deeper pockets often need what is called scaling and root planing as opposed to a "regular cleaning" which is known as an adult prophy.
As always feel free to reach out to us with any of your questions! We would love to hear from you!
