The term periodontology indicates that branch of dentistry that studies the tissues of the periodontium and related diseases.

The periodontium is made up of soft tissues, i.e. the periodontal ligament and gum, and hard tissues, i.e. root cement and alveolar bone, which surround the tooth and serve to ensure its stability in the dental arch. The dentist who is able to ascertain and treat the periodontium is called a periodontist.

Periodontal diseases or periodontal diseases are called and all the diseases that affect the periodontium: periodontitis and gingivitis.

Periodontal disease is also known as “pyorrhea”.

The main cause of periodontitis is poor oral hygiene, because the level of bacterial plaque increases and this causes gingival inflammation to appear, which then worsens to affect the periodontium. Other factors that favor the onset of this disease are smoking, uncompensated diabetes, stress, pregnancy and heredity.

This pathology is infectious because the cause is due to bacterial plaque. Periodontology is a multifactorial disease, because it is given by a different series of factors (smoking, diabetes, stress, pregnancy and heredity), and a specific site, because every single tooth can be affected in a different way.