The relationship between periodontal disease and systemic disease in the elderly

Abstract

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the bacteria of the dental plaque that results in the progressive destruction of the tissues that support the teeth, i.e., the gingiva, the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone (Pihlstrom, et al., 2005). Signs and symptoms of periodontitis include gingival redness and swelling, deepening of the gingival crevice surrounding the teeth resulting in the formation of a pathological periodontal pocket, root exposure due to gingival recession, and increased tooth mobility. Severe forms of the disease may lead to tooth migration, compromised esthetics, impaired masticatory function and, ultimately, tooth loss. Among several identified risk factors affecting the onset and progression of periodontitis, colonization by specific pathogenic bacteria, environmental exposures such as cigarette smoking and a number of systemic conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, are of primary importance [for review see Borrell & Papapanou (2005)]. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.