Periodontal Disease

What is periodontal disease? There are many forms periodontitis but the most common are aggressive, chronic, and periodontitis as a manifest of systemic diseases. Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are healthy but have rapid attachment loss and bone destruction. Chronic periodontitis occurs from inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth and progressive bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is caused by recession of the gingiva. Periodontitis as a manifestation of system diseases occurs from systemic diseases such as respiratory, heart and diabetes. Periodontal disease also called gum disease begins with bacterial growth in the mouth and may end with tooth loss if it is not treated properly. When gingivitis is left untreated it can lead to periodontitis. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque. With periodontitis the inner layer of the bone and gum pull away from the teeth and form pockets. The small spaces between teeth can collect dirt, debris and can become infected. As the disease progresses the pockets get deeper more tissue and bone are destroyed. When the teeth reach this stage the teeth are no longer anchored in place and, the teeth become loose, and tooth loss …show more content…
Many risk factors can cause periodontal disease. Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors. Smoking can also lower the chances for successful treatment. Hormonal changes can make gums more sensitive and make it a lot easier for gingivitis to occur. People with diabetes have a higher chance of developing gingivitis. There are currently tons of prescription and over the counter medications that can reduce the flow of saliva which affects the mouth. If the mouth doesn’t have enough saliva the mouth is very vulnerable to infections such as periodontal disease. Also some medications can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue which will make it difficult to keep the gums and teeth