Overview
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth, characterised by the progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone that can ultimately lead to tooth mobility and loss. It is initiated by dysbiotic bacterial biofilm (dental plaque) at and below the gingival margin, which provokes a host inflammatory and immune response; it is this host-mediated response, rather than the bacteria alone, that drives much of the tissue breakdown. Disease progression involves the formation of periodontal pockets, loss of clinical attachment, and resorption of marginal bone, with inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 beta among the molecular signals reflecting active periodontal inflammation. Clinically, periodontitis presents with gingival redness, swelling and bleeding, halitosis, gingival recession, and increasing tooth mobility, distinguishing it from gingivitis, the reversible inflammation confined to the gingiva. Management centres on disrupting and reducing the biofilm through non-surgical periodontal therapy such as scaling and root planing, supplemented in some cases by adjuncts including low-level laser therapy and antimicrobial agents, alongside rigorous oral hygiene; advanced cases may require surgical or regenerative intervention. Because the periodontal tissues and surrounding bone are affected, periodontal status also influences restorative, implant, and prosthodontic treatment. Periodontitis is further studied for its associations with systemic health, making its prevention and control important to both oral and general well-being.
Research published in this journal
8 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
How this research is being cited
The 8 articles above have been cited 23 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
-
2026 · eLife
-
2025 · Stem Cell Research & Therapy
-
2025 ·
-
2025 ·
-
2025 · Stem Cell Research & Therapy
-
M. A. Faizal et al. · 2025 · Romanian Journal of Stomatology
-
2024 · Deleted Journal
-
2023 · International Journal of Molecular Sciences
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Periodontitis, linking to each citing work.