Periodontal disease is diagnosed from your x-rays and Dr. Talley’s examination. Periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss, it can be painless and have not symptoms until it is too late. The process of infection can be stopped and controlled by treatment. The first stage of the disease is gingivitis. Gingivitis is an infection in the gum. The infection causes the gums to pull away from the teeth leaving space between the tooth and the gum. These spaces are called pockets. The bacteria then moves down the tooth to the supporting bone and destroys the bone that holds your teeth in your mouth. This is called bone loss. Your teeth become loose and they fall out or are extracted. Treatment may include four initial visits.