Question
What are all the numbers my Periodontist was shouting out? They give me palpitations!
Answer
Don’t panic! We know how important and scary this time can be for you.
Part of the comprehensive gum health assessment your Periodontist will do for you is measuring your gum pockets around every tooth in your mouth.
It helps them and their team to know where to focus their advice and their treatment care.
Pocket depths are usually measured in millimetres.
The lower the number the better, as it shows the pockets are more shallow (therefore less affected by the condition and easier for you to keep hygienic).
However, it is not the only part of the information-gathering. In fact, without knowing if those pockets are ‘active’ or not, the numbers themselves are not as helpful as they might seem.