Defining periodontal health

Abstract

Assessment of the periodontium has relied exclusively on a variety of physical measurements (e.g., attachment level, probing depth, bone loss, mobility, recession, degree of inflammation, etc.) in relation to various case definitions of periodontal disease. Periodontal health was often an afterthought and was simply defined as the absence of the signs and symptoms of a periodontal disease. Accordingly, these strict and sometimes disparate definitions of periodontal disease have resulted in an idealistic requirement of a pristine periodontium for periodontal health, which makes us all diseased in one way or another. Furthermore, the consequence of not having a realistic definition of health has resulted in potentially questionable recommendations. The aim of this manuscript was to assess the biological, environmental, sociological, economic, educational and psychological relationships that are germane to constructing a paradigm that defines periodontal health using a modified wellness model. The paradigm includes four cardinal characteristics, i.e., 1) a functional dentition, 2) the painless function of a dentition, 3) the stability of the periodontal attachment apparatus, and 4) the psychological and social well-being of the individual. Finally, strategies and policies that advocate periodontal health were appraised.I'm not sick but I'm not well,and it's a sin to live so well.Flagpole Sitta, Harvey Danger

Oral and Periodontal Diseases in Consanguineous Marriages

“…Etymologically, the word "health" was reproduced from the Old English "hale" and means wholesome, sound, or well-being [1]. Although there is signiicant improvement in oral health in developed countries, oral disease still persists as a global problem, especially among underprivileged groups in both developing and developed countries [2].…”

“…What is "complete physical and mental health" and "absence of disease or inirmity"? Unfortunately, these questions have not been-and probably never will beanswered satisfactorily [1].…”

“…Periodontal health means the absence of any clinical signs and symptoms of current or past periodontal disease [1]. For many patients, healthy periodontium is comfortable and free of functional and aesthetic problems [9].…”

Relative quantification ofPorphyromonas gingivalis,Treponema denticola,Tannerella forsythiaandAggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitanshigh-risk bacterial species in Romanian patients evaluated for periodontal disease

“…Genetic predisposition, lifestyle (smoking, stress, and oral hygiene), as well as socio-economic status, precede and modulate the development of the bacterial biofilm present in the gingival sulcus, which represents the main cause of gingivitis and periodontal disease (Mariotti and Arthur, 2015;Chen et al, 2005).…”

“…It appears that orange and green complexes are associated with long term gingivitis, which precedes the actual periodontal disease, while the red complex are the late colonizers of the plaque biofilm (Teles et al, 2013). A. actinomycetemcomitans has been found to be one of the first and most important etiological agents that invades the subgingival plaque and set up the environment for other bacterial species (Mariotti and Arthur, 2015).…”