Signs and symptoms of periodontal disease include bleeding on probing, the presence of periodontal pockets, alveolar bone loss, pain, and gingival swelling. Risk factors for periodontal disease include cigarette smoking, diabetes, stress, poor oral hygiene, the presence of periodontal pockets, and heredity. Because the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease are not equal to the risk factors for periodontal disease, the method to determine a diagnosis of periodontal disease differs from the method to determine the risk for periodontal disease. Consequently, a comprehensive evaluation of periodontal status necessitates separate determinations for diagnosis and risk, which together comprise a broader description of a patient's periodontal status than diagnosis alone. Where subjective methods are used for determining risk there is a natural inclination to associate the level of risk with the severity of disease. While it is definitely true that high severity must equal high risk, it is just as true that...
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