Periodontitis

Excerpt

Approximately 700 species of microorganisms colonize the human oral cavity. These bacteria inhabiting the human oral cavity are mainly commensals along with a sparse population of pathogenic bacteria. Periodontitis is one of the most common ailments affecting the teeth, leading to the destruction of the supporting and surrounding tooth structure. The term "periodontitis" is build up of two words, i.e., "periodont-" meaning "structure surrounding the teeth" and "itis" means "inflammation." Periodontitis is originally a disease originating from the gingival tissue which if left untreated results in penetration of inflammation to the deeper tissues, altering the bone homeostasis causing tooth loss. Periodontal disease has a multifactorial origin. The main culprit identified in periodontitis is the bacterial biofilm growing on the tooth surfaces. While the host response determines the progression of the disease along with factors like local factors like plaque and calculus, genetics, environmental factors, systemic health of the patient, lifestyle habits and various social determinants also play a role. The deleterious effects of periodontopathogens are not limited to the periodontium, but they also exude their ill effects on the systemic health of the patients.