Pathogenesis of Periodontitis: An Overview
Wael Khalil *
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Lebanese University, Lebanon.
Georges Aoun
Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Lebanese University, Lebanon.
Marwa Jaffal
Abdelkarim Al-Khalil Street, Chyah, Beirut, Lebanon.
Maryse Nassif
Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Lebanon.
Mazen Kurban
Departments of Dermatology and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Periodontitis is the severe inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the tooth like gingiva, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. Many studies have tried to explain the pathogenesis of periodontitis focusing in many parameters such as the roles of the host pathways, the molecular and genetic factors, the bacterial biofilm mass, and the patient’s susceptibility.
The main objective of this article is to review the most relevant and comprehensive models of the pathophysiology of periodontitis and emphasize factors including the presence of systemic conditions and genetic that play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic and aggressive periodontitis.
Keywords: Pathogenesis, periodontitis, genetic factors, systemic conditions, host pathways, molecular factors, bacterial biofilm