What’s the Difference Between Aggressive and Chronic Periodontitis?
By Akram Rafla | Published on December 17, 2010 | 0 Comments
At this point, most people know that periodontitis is a serious inflammatory disease that can cause severe physical problems if left untreated. However, Dr. Akram Rafla says that few people realize that there are multiple types of periodontitis. A well-known periodontist in Northborough, MA, Dr. Rafla explains that aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis are two forms of this disease.
Although aggressive periodontitis is usually seen as the more serious of the two, both chronic and aggressive periodontitis can cause lifelong problems if they remain untreated. For the most part, Dr. Rafla says, the easiest way to tell these two conditions apart is by having a closer look at the symptoms.
While a patient with chronic periodontitis can expect to lose between 5% and 10% of the bone in his mouth over the course of 10 to 15 years, Dr. Rafla says that someone suffering from aggressive periodontitis could expect to lose 10% to 15% of the bone in his mouth on a yearly basis. If left undiagnosed and untreated, aggressive periodontitis could ravage a person’s mouth in less than one year’s time.
Dr. Rafla says that aggressive and chronic periodontitis are two very different diseases, and as such, the treatment for each is completely unique. Unfortunately, it is very difficult – if not impossible – for a person to know which one of these forms of periodontitis he has without consulting a periodontist for help. Dr. Rafla works with many patients suffering from these painful conditions.
Anyone who suspects that he may have periodontitis needs to see a dentist immediately, says Dr. Rafla, because aggressive periodontal disease that is left untreated can cause a person to lose all of his teeth in a very short period of time. Dr. Rafla cautions that people need to be aware that there are not any periodontal treatments that can regenerate bone once it has been lost. As a periodontist, Dr. Rafla’s main goal when treating patients is to stop the progression of the disease. And the sooner periodontal disease is diagnosed by a clinician, the better the patient can expect to fare in the long run.
The ways in which a periodontist will go about stopping the progression of aggressive and chronic periodontitis will vary from patient to patient, although Dr. Rafla says that with chronic periodontal disease, the treatment generally begins by putting the patient through the initial oral therapy. With this, a periodontist will work with the patient to make sure that he is keeping up with proper home care, including daily brushing and flossing routines.
With aggressive periodontitis, patients usually need surgery in order to stop the disease from progressing. During this surgery, a periodontitst will go into the mouth and re-contour the gums or re-contour the bone in an effort to stop the progression of this dangerous disease.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.