Head and Neck Imaging

Periodontal disease

Various types of periodontal disease are recognized, and are classified according to their clinical manifestations, such as patient's age, speed of progression, and whether they occur locally or are generalized. All these periodontal diseases are caused by bacterial infection and result in damage to the supporting tissues of the teeth. Plaque-forming bacteria spread between the root surface and gingival margin, eliciting an inflammatory response, resulting in pocket formation, apical migration of the epithelial attachment and alveolar bone loss. Early periodontitis causes localized erosions of the alveolar bone crest. With progression, moderate periodontitis may cause further resorption, leading to loss in height of the alveolar bone and/or osseous defects obliquely orientated to the alveolar bone in the area of an involved tooth. In advanced periodontitis, the bone loss is so pronounced that the teeth are at risk of being lost because of inadequate support. A periodontal abscess may develop in a deep soft tissue pocket (see abscess dental).

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