The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment.
Screening tests are usually administered to people without
current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain
diseases or conditions. - Dental exam—Your dentist will perform
a careful survey of the appearance of your gums, check each
tooth for looseness, and use a probe to identify and measure any
spaces, known as pockets, between your gums and teeth. If you
have periodontal disease, these pockets will measure more than 3
mm in depth. - Dental x-ray —This type of x-ray may reveal
whether or not the bones that support your teeth show signs of
deterioration. Evidence of bone loss around teeth is one of the
signs of more advanced periodontal disease. According to the
American Dental Association, you should have a regular dental
checkup every six months. Screening for periodontal disease
should be part of every regular dental examination. - Reviewer:
Michael Woods, MD - Review Date: 09/2012 - - Update Date:
00/91/2012 -