06/26/2024
Have you ever wondering why your dentist or dental hygienist measured your gums? Maybe you hear them calling out numbers like “3-2-3, 4-2-3” and have wondered what they mean.
These numbers represent the space between your gum and tooth measured in millimetres. Values between 0-3mm indicate a healthy environment and tells the dental professional that your tooth has good support to hold it in place. 4mm or more indicates an area where the gum tissue has started to pull away from the tooth surface due to infection.
When completing a full periodontal assessment the dental professional gains information about
- Clinical attachment loss
- Gingival recessions
- Periodontal pocket depth
- Bleeding
- Bone levels
- etc
We take these measurements for many reasons (as indicated in the second picture of this post), in order to track and analyze the health of your oral cavity.
If you ever have questions about periodontal assessments always feel free ask your dentist or dental hygienist so they can take the time and explain your periodontal status!
