Aggressive Periodontitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Aggressive Periodontitis

Write about aggressive periodontitis and give in detail about localized aggressive periodontitis.
Answer. Aggressive periodontitis is defined as a disease of periodontium occurring in an otherwise healthy adolescent which is characterized by rapid loss of alveolar bone but more than one tooth of permanent dentition. The amount of destruction present does not commensurate with the amount of local irritants. Aggressive periodontitis was classified as: Early onset periodontitis, therefore localized juvenile periodontitis has been changed to localized aggressive periodontitis, generalized aggressive periodontitis was classified as generalized juvenile periodontitis and rapidly progressive periodontitis.

Localized Aggressive Periodontitis

A disease occurring in otherwise healthy individuals, under the age of 30, with destructive periodontitis localized to the first permanent molars and the incisors, and not involving more than two other teeth. The severity of periodontal destruction is inconsistent with the amount of local factors present.

In 1923, Gottieb reported a disease that he called diffuse atrophy of alveolar bone. The disease is characterized by:

“Genetic factors in aggressive periodontitis”

Stage 1. Degeneration of principle fiber of PDL which induce cessation of cementum formation and resorption of alveolar bone. Which cause tooth migration without any inflammatory involvement.

Stage 2. Lack of periodontal fiber result in the rapid proliferation of junctional epithelium along the root as the sign of inflammation appear.

Stage 3. inflammation progresses and there is development of deep infrabony periodontal pocket.

Read And Learn More: Periodontics Question And Answers

Aggressive Periodontitis Clinical Features

• Age and sex distribution: Both the sexes with female predilection from puberty to 20 years of age.
• Distribution of lesion: Three areas of localization of bone loss has been described.
  • 1st molar or incisor.
  • 1st molar or Incisor + Additional teeth not exceeding 14 teeth.
  • Generalized involvement.
    For localized juvenile periodontitis, classical distribution in the first molar and the incisors, with least destruction in cuspid and premolar area.
• Most striking feature is lack of clinical inflammation with presence of deep periodontal pocket.
• Formation of plaque which mineralizes to become calculus.
• Most common initial symptoms are movability and migration of 1st molar and incisors.

“Bacterial infections linked to aggressive periodontitis”

• As disease progresses other symptom-like root surface sensitivity, dull radiating pain, periodontal abscess formation and lymph node enlargement may occur.
• Presence of distolabial migration of maxillary incisors resulting in diastema formation.
• There is increase in the mobility of maxillary and mandibular incisors as well as first molars.
• There is presence of deep, dull radiating pain at the time of mastication due to irritation of supporting structures by mobile teeth and impacted food. Now the periodontal abscess may form and regional lymph node enlargement can occur.
• Patient may complaint of sensitivity of denuded root surfaces to thermal as well as tactile stimuli.
• In various cases of localized aggressive periodontitis, disease appears to be self limiting. Attachment loss and bone destruction do not spread to other teeth. This phenomenon of self-limiting activity along with advanced age is known as burn-out phenomenon.
• Isolated areas of attachment loss in otherwise healthy dentitions including recession associated with traumatic injuries, tooth position, impacted third molars, endodontic infection, root fractures, subgingival caries and subgingival restorations.

“Immune system and aggressive periodontitis”

Aggressive Periodontitis Radiographic Finding

• Vertical or angular bone loss around the 1st molar and incisors.
• Presence of ‘Arc-shaped’ alveolar bone loss around first molars which extend from distal surface of second premolar to mesial surface of second molar. So, the bilateral “arc shaped’ bone loss is the mirror image and is characteristic of localized aggressive periodontitis.
• Presence of widening of periodontal ligament.

“Early warning signs of aggressive periodontitis”

Aggressive Periodontitis Histopathological Features

These are same as seen during pocket formation:

• Ulceration of pocket epithelium
• Accommodation of inflammatory cells
• Bacterial invasion of connective tissue that reaches bone surface
  Two types of bacteria are considered to be pathogens in localized aggressive periodontitis.
• A. actinomycetemcomitans and Capnocytophaga.

Aggressive Periodontitis Treatment

Treatment for localized aggressive periodontitis is divided into two categories, i.e. non-surgical and surgical.

“Natural remedies for aggressive periodontitis”

Nonsurgical Treatment

• Phase 1 therapy:
  • Educate and motivate the patient.
  • Oral hygiene instructions are given to the patient and counseling of the family members should be done.
  • Scaling and root planning should be done.
  • Anatomical factors should be corrected and occlusal adjustment should be done, if needed.
  • Recall appointments should be kept for maintenance.
• Full mouth disinfection:
  • Full mouth scaling and root planning (two visits under 24 hours)
  • Dorsum of tongue should be brushed by the patient for 60 seconds with 1% chlorhexidine gel.
  • Peritonsillar region should be sprayed by chlorhexidine for two times a day.
  • 1% of chlorhexidine should be applied subgingivally in full depth of periodontal pockets till 10 minutes.
  • Mouth should be rinsed by 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash for 2 minutes.

“Loose teeth as a symptom of aggressive periodontitis”

• Antibiotic therapy:
  • Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 14 days is given in conjunction with periodontal therapy.
  • Metronidazole 200 mg thrice daily for 10 days is given in combination with scaling and root planning.
  • Combination of metronidazole 250 mg and amoxicillin 250 mg three times a day for 7 days along with surgical therapy show promising results.
• Local drug delivery system: In this small total doses of topical agents are delivered inside the pocket, thereby avoiding the side effects of systemic antibacterial agents. Additional direct delivery enhances the exposure of target microorganism to higher concentration, and subsequently gives more therapeutic outcomes. Various local drug delivery agents are formulated in form of solutions, gels, chips and fibers.
• Host modulation: Agents are administered which modulate the host response towards the disease. Administration of subantimicrobial – dose doxycycline may help to prevent periodontal tissue destruction by controlling action of matrix metalloproteinases.
• Photodynamic therapy: It eradicates the target cells, i.e. periodontal pathogens by reactive oxygen particles produced by photosensitizing compounds.

“Gum recession caused by aggressive periodontitis”

Surgical Therapy

• Modified Widman flap surgery can be done along with systemic tetracycline therapy.
• Regenerative procedures, i.e.
  • Flap surgery + bone graft +antibiotic therapy + maintenance therapy
  • Flap surgery + bone graft + GTR membrane + antibiotics + maintenance therapy
• Root resection or hemisection of affected first molar tooth, depending on the indication.
• Autotransplantation, i.e. extraction of involved mandibular first molar and autotransplantation of incompletely erupted third molar in socket.
• Extraction of hopeless teeth.
• Implant therapy is a good option in such cases.

“Painful gums and aggressive periodontitis”

Periodontal Maintenance Care

• Recall visits should be kept frequently.
• In every 3 to 4 months, a medical history review, periodontal and oral examination, scaling and root planning and last but not the least reinforcement of oral hygiene instructions.
• Presence of poor serum antibody response.