Periodontitis is defined as The disease is characterized by loss of clinical attachment due to destruction of the periodontal ligament and loss of the adjacent supporting bone.
Periodontitis refers to a number of inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium — that is, the tissues that surround and support the teeth.
In it the inflammation of the gingiva extends into the adjacent attachment apparatus. Periodontitis involves progressive loss of the alveolar bone around the teeth, and if left untreated, can lead to the loosening and subsequent loss of teeth. Periodontitis is caused by a convergence of bacteria that adhere to and grow on the tooth's surfaces, along with an overly aggressive immune response against these bacteria. A diagnosis of periodontitis is established by inspecting the soft gum tissues around the teeth with a probe and radiographs by visual analysis, to determine the amount of bone loss around the teeth.
Although periodontitis is the most common form of destructive periodontal disease in adults, it can occur over a wide range of ages. Periodontitis occurs in localized and generalized forms.Specialists in the treatment of periodontitis are periodontists; their field is known as "periodontology" and "periodontics".
