Veterinary Dentistry – Dental Diseases Practice Exam

Stage 1 periodontal disease is gingivitis: inflammation limited to the gums with no attachment or bone loss. Because there’s no destruction of the periodontal attachment, this stage is reversible with effective plaque control, professional cleaning, and consistent at-home care. You wouldn’t expect pockets or radiographic bone loss at this stage, and furcation involvement isn’t present. If left untreated, it can progress to early periodontitis with attachment loss, but at Stage 1 the key point is reversibility.