Peridontal Disease
Periodontal disease also known as gum disease is an infection affecting the tissues that help support the teeth. The gum tissue is not adapted high enough on our teeth as some of us may perceive. There is a shallow crest called a sulcus between the our gums and teeth shaped of a triangle. Periodontal diseases developes under the gum line in the sulcus, where the disease is responsible for the breakdown of the the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues. As the disease progresses overtime the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a periodontal pocket. Normally, the longer the disease progress, the deeper the depth of the pocket.
Periodontal diseases are generally classified according to the severity and progression of the disease. There are two major stages of periodontal disease. The initial stage of the progression is called gingivitis, an inflammation of the gum tissues. The next stage is periodontitis, which is a breakdown of the attachment of the tooth which creates bone loss. Inflammation of the gums is the initial and reversible stage of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. If not treated accordingly gingivitis may turn into a more serious, damaging form called periodontitis. The more destructive stages of gum disease, periodontitis, the gingival tissues and bone that support the teeth become brittle and are proned to damages. Dental plaque that are not cleaned calcifies into calculus (tartar). As plaque and calculus settle and accumulate, the gums start to recede from the teeth, and periodontal pocketing form between the teeth and gums. Individuals with healthy gums and have bones that anchor teeth firmly in place, people with diseased gingiva can cause teeth to become loose, fall out, or have to be removed by a oral surgeon.
Distribution of Periodontal Disease
The widespread of periodontal disease in adults has been relatively measured by the clinical assessment of the alveolar level of the...