Systemic conditions associated with periodontitis in childhood and adolescence. A review of diagnostic possibilities.

The term periodontitis is used to describe a group of multifactorial diseases that result in the progressive destruction of the structures that support the teeth within the jaws, the so-called attachment apparatus, which includes the periodontal ligament, cementum and alveolar bone. If left untreated, this process can ultimately lead to tooth loss. The pathogenesis of these diseases involves the initial colonization of the gingival microenvironment of a susceptible host by pathogenic bacteria found in dental plaque. Subsequently, much of the tissue destruction characteristic of periodontitis is a , by-product, of the host response directed against these organisms. One of the major factors that appear to modulate disease severity is systemic health. Severe periodontitis in young individuals can therefore be a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. In this review we will discuss the most important systemic diseases that should be considered in a differential diagnosis when evaluating a pediatric patient presenting with periodontitis.