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How does periodontitis lead to tooth loss in adults?
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dentistry
The practice of dentistry involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease, as well as correcting deformities of the jaws, teeth, and oral cavity.
Periodontitis is an inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. The process typically follows these stages:
- Plaque Accumulation: The condition begins when bacterial plaque deposits below the gum line, causing irritation and erosion of neighboring tissues.1
- Gum Recession: As the inflammation persists, the gum margins begin to recede, which exposes the roots of the teeth.1
- Bone Involvement: Eventually, the disease affects the alveolar bone that anchors the teeth in the jaw. This destruction of supporting bone causes the teeth to loosen significantly.1
- Tooth Loss: Once the structural support provided by the alveolar bone is compromised, the teeth may become so loose that they fall out.1
While early stages characterized by gingivitis are reversible through proper hygiene, advanced bone deterioration cannot be reversed, though professional intervention may sometimes stimulate new bone growth.1