Aggressive Periodontitis

Aggressive periodontitis is a destructive disease involving multiple teeth with a distinctive pattern of periodontal tissue loss; a high rate of disease progression; an early age of onset and the absence of systemic diseases. In some patients periodontal tissue loss may commence before puberty, whereas in most patients the age of onset is during or somewhat after the circumpubertal period. Besides infection with specific microorganisms, a host predisposition seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of aggressive periodontitis, as evidenced by the familial aggregation of the disease. In this book we review the historical background, classification, epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment plan of aggressive periodontitis. Understanding the pathogenesis, etiology and risk factors of this disease may contribute to an earlier diagnosis. This may significantly enhance the predictive value of detection of cases of aggressive periodontitis before significant tissue loss develops.