RT Book, Section
A1 Karimbux, Nadeem Y.
A1 Dragan, Irina F.
A1 Kim, David M.
A2 Kline, Mark W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1182906798
T1 Periodontal and Gingival Health and Diseases
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259588594
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182906798
RD 2024/04/20
AB The  normal  periodontium  consists  of  gingiva,  connective  tissue,  the  periodontal  ligament,  cementum,  and  the  surrounding  alveolar  bone.  Clinicians  commonly  describe  the  healthy  gingiva  as  being  scalloped,  firm,  and  knife-edged.  The  lack  of  bleeding  on  probing  and  the  lack  of  exudates  are  also  taken  as  clinical  signs  of  health.  In  children,  similar  characteristics  are  observed  and  recorded  (although  there  are  more  spaces  between  primary  teeth  resulting  in  a  flatter,  less  scalloped  appearance).  Several  different  forms  of  gingival  and  periodontal  disease  in  children  and  adolescents  that  can  change  the  appearance  (eg,  erythema),  contour  (eg,  swelling),  size  (eg,  hyperplasia  or  overgrowth),  and  shape  (eg,  blunted  papillae)  of  the  gingiva  range  from  reversible  conditions  such  as  inflammation  of  gingival  tissues  (ie,  gingivitis)  to  those  characterized  by  the  destruction  of  the  periodontal  connective  tissue  attachment  and  alveolar  bone  (ie,  periodontitis).  If  these  conditions  are  left  untreated,  the  deciduous  or  permanent  dentitions  may  be  jeopardized.  Thus,  fundamental  principles  concerning  the  etiology  and  the  contributing  factors  of  periodontal  diseases  need  to  be  understood  in  order  to  identify  and  manage  them  as  well  to  minimize  or  prevent  complications.