It is a branch of dentistry dealing with the affections of the periodontium, which represents the complex of structures that maintain the tooth on the dental arch: gum, alveolar bone, periodontal ligaments. When these are affected and not properly treated, the tooth loses its bone support, it begins to “move” and in the end the patient loses the tooth or teeth, affected by the periodontal disease.
In common language, ‘periodontitis’ or ‘periodontal disease’ is a common disease and it affects everyone, more or less, without taking into account the age or sex. Of course, there is a genetic component involved. Still, there hasn’t been invented a “pill” or a vaccine to “cure” this disease, but we can control it, we can “keep” it in place by scaling and polishing our teeth periodically every 6 months or more frequently where necessary.
For patients in advanced stages of periodontal disease, a series of special treatments are indicated, some even surgically with bone or artificial additions.