Abstract

Periodontitis is the 6th most common disease in the world, and after the age of 40, the great majority of teeth are extracted because of it. In developed countries, 50% of the adult population between 35 and 65 years old presents with periodontitis, and the prevalence is growing. Concerning the global adult population, severe forms are estimated to affect around 14%, representing more than one billion cases worldwide. More recently, the prevalence has exploded.

For more than 40 years, perio-medicine relationships have been highlighted, and today, periodontitis constitutes a real risk factor for numerous pathologies or physiological situations: cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, premature delivery, low birth weight, rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers, erectile dysfunction, and more.

However, recognizing the 8 signs of periodontitis and the 6 risk factors is very easy and within reach of any health professional. Nowadays, the diagnosis of periodontal diseases, the treatment of gingivitis, and the management of periodontitis are well codified and widely practiced around the world.

Concerning at-home, everyday dental care, scientific evidence is available to show the effectiveness of specific toothpastes on gingival inflammation and their action against dental plaque.

Rational measures to prevent these diseases exist and are widely used in industrialized countries. As a public health policy, the elimination of periodontal diseases does not seem to be only a virtual goal, but is probably achievable. This is undoubtedly the challenge of the millennium — and not only for developed countries.

Learning Objectives

• To recognize the 8 signs of periodontitis
• To identify the 6 risk factors of periodontitis
• To understand how to treat gingivitis
• To learn the relationships between periodontitis and several health conditions

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