PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Periodontal disease is a broad term used to refer to a bacterial infection of the periodontium. The two basic types or categories of periodontal disease are (1) gingivitis and (2) periodontitis.
1. Gingivitis is a bacterial infection that is limited to the gingiva. It results in REVERSIBLE damage to the gingival tissues only.
2. Periodontitis is a bacterial infection of all the structures of the periodontium. The results of the damage to the tissues is IRREVERSIBLE. However, with the proper care the progression of the infection can be stopped in most cases.
Both gingivitis and periodontitis can be either generalized throughout the entire mouth or localized to a specific area in the mouth, which can be either a chronic or an acute infection. Both types of infection can be either mild, moderate, or severe/advanced in the degree of severity.