Final answer:
The detection of periodontal disease primarily involves visual inspection, measuring gum pockets, and X-ray imaging, but advanced techniques such as laser scanning and immunoassays are used for deeper investigation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main technique used for detecting periodontal disease involves a comprehensive dental examination which includes visual inspection of the gums, measuring the depth of pockets around the teeth, and may also involve X-ray imaging. For more advanced diagnostic capabilities, techniques such as the use of laser scanning to create three-dimensional images from two-dimensional scans at various depths can be employed to examine thick specimens such as biofilms that may be present in advanced cases of periodontitis.
Gingivitis, the precursor to periodontitis, can be diagnosed by visual observation of redness and irritation of the gums. However, as periodontal disease progresses to periodontitis and advanced periodontitis, more thorough techniques are required such as those utilizing fluorochromes and long-wavelength light to penetrate deep into the affected areas.
Detection of antibodies in blood, the presence of specific bacteria in a stool sample, or a stomach biopsy is also indicative of infection that could be related to periodontal disease severity. While some detection methods focus on direct visualization and measurement, more complex diagnostics may involve immunoassays that capture color-labeled antigen-antibody complexes for disease diagnosis.