Recently, one of your teeth fell out, and you’ve been looking into tooth replacement options. During your appointment with your dentist to discuss what the best choice would be, they recommended getting a dental implant. When discussing the procedure, they threw out various terms you’ve never heard before. Not knowing what terms related to your treatment mean can make you feel uncertain and confused, so we’ve put together a list of common dental implant terms you should know.

According to the CDC, nearly half of all adults ages 30 and older show signs of gum disease. Of those, 9% show signs of serious gum disease. Even if you have a general idea of what gum disease is, being aware of what the different stages look and feel like can help you get the treatment you need sooner rather than later. Here are the phases of gum disease and what you can do to prevent them.