Periodontal disease or periodontitis is an infection caused by bacteria that destroy the gum and bone, which are the tissues that support the teeth, leading to tooth loss. In fact, it is currently the leading cause of tooth loss in adult patients and is estimated to affect approximately two thirds of the population.
Importance of early detection of periodontitis
The early detection of periodontitis determines the prognosis of the patient’s teeth. In other words, early detection will allow the patient the possibility of keeping his or her teeth in the long term. On the contrary, a late detection complicates the preservation of teeth even more.
Diagnosing periodontal disease: Florida Probe
There are different devices, such as the Florida probe, which are used to diagnose periodontal disease more accurately and objectively. This probe performs an automatic probing with a controlled and identical pressure in each measurement, so that the measurement does not depend on the strength of the dentist and, therefore, is more objective.
In addition, the Florida probe offers the possibility of a more precise follow-up and evaluation of the results obtained with the treatment performed. In this way, the response of each patient to the treatment is studied. It is also very useful in patient follow-up, because it allows to compare different evaluations over time and to see the evolution of the patient over time.