Why do dentists say numbers when checking teeth?

0-3mm without bleeding means you are in great shape. Be proud! 1-3mm with bleeding is an early sign of gingivitis. Better at-home care will probably get you back on track!

What are good numbers for gums?

Healthy gum tissue will usually yield numbers of less than 4 mm. Higher numbers indicate that the tissue is inflamed and some dental treatment may be necessary.” Typically, 1 – 3 mm is healthy, 4 is a warning and anything over 5 is a call to action to prevent disease.

What do the letters and numbers mean at the dentist?

When dentists and dental hygienists talk about numbers and letters as they peer into your mouth, they are identifying specific teeth. Using a coding system of letters and numbers allows dentists to specify which teeth have decay or other problems.

What does a gum score of 9 mean?

What the Numbers Mean. We grade the health of your gums on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 indicating the most severe recession, or loss of gum tissue — 9 mm.

What does it mean when dentist Says 2?

2 means there is some hardened dead plaque attached to your teeth, which some gentle cleaning and a little oral health education can help with.

What does it mean when the dentist measure your gums?

When you visit our office for your routine cleaning, you may notice that your hygienist measures your gum depths using a probing tool. This small part of your dental appointment helps us identify potential gum or periodontal disease. By monitoring your gum measurements, we can determine your overall gum health.

What do numbers mean when checking gums?

What Do The Numbers Mean? During the measuring process, you’ll hear us say numbers ranging from 1 to 7, and sometimes more. These numbers reflect how deep your gum pockets are in millimeters. Anything between 1 and 3 is a good indicator that your gums are healthy.

What does a gum score of 4 mean?

It is where we are in the balance between health and disease. The biofilm increases or the risk factor balance changes and you have a diagnosis of gum disease. Score 4. 4 indicates gum disease, if you are diagnosed with gum disease we can work with you to create a thorough plan on how to best treat this.

Is tooth number 32 a wisdom tooth?

The normal adult mouth contains 32 teeth. 1, 16, 17 and 32 are back teeth commonly referred to as “Wisdom Teeth”.

What does it mean when dentist says 3?

Why do dentists and assistants call out numbers to each other during oral exams? It’s a measurement for oral health! Numbers like 18 or 24 are tooth numbers. Calling out 1, 2, or 3 is a measurement of the top of the gum to its attachment to the tooth.

What are the numbers they call out at the dentist?

Is a gum score of 2 bad?

A score of 1 means that you have some plaque or bleeding from the edges of your gums. 2 means there is some hardened dead plaque attached to your teeth, which some gentle cleaning and a little oral health education can help with. It’s the 3 scores that present the difficulty.