Periodontics-Gum Disease Introduction

1	What are periodontal diseases?
2	How common are periodontal diseases?



	(1) What are Periodontal Diseases?
	Periodontal Disease (also known as gum disease, periodontitis or pyorrhoea) is an infection of the underlying supporting structures of the teeth. Periodontal means "around the tooth". Periodontal diseases are gum and bone infections caused by the bacteria (germs) in your mouth. These infections destroy the foundation, the gum and bone around your teeth. Periodontal diseases are painless until it is almost too late to save teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause bad breath and swollen bleeding gums and eventually tooth loss. In fact periodontal diseases are the major reason for adult tooth loss. Periodontal diseases are broadly classified into: and

	(2) How common is periodontal disease?
	Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, affecting more than three quarters of all people, regardless of race, nationality, or socio-economic levels. In fact, nearly half of all twenty year olds in the world have at least one periodontal pocket. The good news is that the earlier periodontal disease is detected, the more successful the treatment results. click here to learn about treatments for gum disease
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