Category: Clinical Periodontology

Introduction One of the major challenges faced by dental specialists today is the assessment and management of patients with increasingly complex medical conditions. These medical conditions can alter both, the course of the oral disease and the therapy provided. Therefore, it is important for a clinician to identify patient’s medical status to formulate a proper…

Introduction Due to improvement in the health care facilities the population of elderly individuals in increasing throughout the world. The oral health-related problems in geriatric patients are different from those seen in younger individuals. One of the most important criteria determining the oral and periodontal health in elderly individuals is how they have been taking…

Introduction Periodontal treatment of a female patient presents a unique challenge to the clinicians because of the effect of variations in hormonal levels on oral soft tissues. Hormonal variations during the lifetime of a female patient during puberty, pregnancy, on the usage of oral contraceptives and menopause may cause worsening of the existing periodontal disease…

Introduction to oral manifestations of HIV The oral manifestations of HIV infection are important components of AIDS. These are seen in approximately 30 to 80 percent of the affected patient population 32-34. There are various factors which predispose an HIV-infected patient for oral lesions. These include CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3, viral load > 3000…

Introduction to human immunodeficiency virus The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus belonging to the family of lentiviruses which causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) in humans. Since the identification of this virus, extensive research has been done on HIV to understand its life cycle, routes of transmission, pathogenesis of AIDS and possible cure…

Introduction to periodontal abscess Periodontal abscess is a localized acute bacterial infection confined to the tissues of the periodontium and not arising from the tooth pulp. It is an acute destructive process in the periodontium resulting in localized collections of pus, communicating with the oral cavity through the gingival sulcus or other periodontal sites. It…

Introduction to acute periodontal conditions Acute periodontal diseases are clinical conditions of rapid onset that involve the periodontium or associated structures and may be characterized by discomfort or pain and infection 1. Patients have moderate to acute pain in these conditions which requires urgent attention. These lesions cause rapid destruction of the tissue. Prompt diagnosis…

Introduction to desquamative gingivitis Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is the clinical term given to the gingival manifestation of mucocutaneous diseases. This gingival condition is characterized by intense erythema, sloughing off or ulceration that is commonly associated with some kind of systemic autoimmune disease. This condition is non-plaque associated and may be localized to the marginal gingiva,…

Introduction to gingival enlargement Gingival enlargement or gingival overgrowth is the increase in the size of gingiva. It is a common clinical condition usually seen in acute and chronic gingival inflammation. The enlargement of the gingival tissue may also occur due to many other reasons, which include drug intake associated, conditioned, neoplastic or false enlargements.…

Introduction to periodontitis The 2017, World Workshop on the classification of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions defines periodontitis as a chronic multifactorial inflammatory disease associated with dysbiotic plaque biofilms and characterized by progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus 1. This disease may progress rapidly or slowly and has been presently categorized in Stages and…