Periodontal disease is a type of disease that affects one or more of the periodontal tissues:
- alveolar bone
- periodontal ligament
- cementum
- gingiva
While many different diseases affect the tooth-supporting structures, plaque-induced inflammatory lesions make up the vast majority of periodontal diseases and have traditionally been divided into two categories:
- gingivitis or
- periodontitis.
While in some sites or individuals, gingivitis never progresses to periodontitis, data indicate that periodontitis is always preceded by gingivitis.
Read more about Periodontal Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis, History, References
Famous quotes containing the word disease:
“Is not disease the rule of existence? There is not a lily pad floating on the river but has been riddled by insects. Almost every shrub and tree has its gall, oftentimes esteemed its chief ornament and hardly to be distinguished from the fruit. If misery loves company, misery has company enough. Now, at midsummer, find me a perfect leaf or fruit.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)