What are the features of the course of chronic periodontitis depending on age?

The dentition is prone to inflammatory diseases, the development of which makes patients turn to the dentist. One of these pathological processes of the oral cavity is periodontitis. With such a diagnosis, both adults and the elderly, as well as children, find themselves in the dental chair. The specialist must know the characteristics of the course of periodontitis in people of different ages for the qualitative treatment of the disease. What are the features of the course of chronic periodontitis in people of different age groups?

Chronic periodontitis in children. What are the features of the process flow?

It is known that a person's teeth begin to appear a few months after birth, and after five years, the child begins the process of changing milk teeth to permanent ones. This formation of dentition is genetically based and is focused on unhindered breastfeeding in the first few months of life. By the age of 12-14 years, the child's mouth contains only permanent teeth. By old age, the structure of the tooth changes, acquiring some features. Consider the features of milk teeth, which create the characteristic symptoms of the course of chronic periodontitis in children.

Features of the course of chronic periodontitis in children:

• In immature and milk teeth, periodontitis proceeds with a closed tooth cavity, having a shallow carious cavity.
• Milk teeth are more susceptible to the granulating form of chronic periodontitis. In this case, pathological resorption of the crowns of the teeth is often observed.
• The granulating form of periodontitis in children is more often accompanied by the formation of a fistula on the gums than in adults and adolescents.
• As a result of chronic periodontitis of immature teeth, there may be pulp necrosis and death of growth tissue, which provokes the cessation of tooth root formation.
• Quite often, in all forms of periodontitis, there is a process of rarefaction of the bone at the site of the bifurcation of the roots, which is more pronounced than in the roots.
• The granulating process of the root of a milk tooth, moving to the follicle of a permanent tooth, can disrupt the process of its development.
• In different roots of multi-rooted teeth, there may be different forms of inflammation at the same time.
• The granulating form of chronic periodontitis in children is more often accompanied by lymphadenitis than in adults.

Peculiarities of the course of periodontitis in the elderly

Teeth in the elderly are rarely subject to periodontitis. The greatest likelihood of post-traumatic periodontitis occurs against the background of permanent tissue injury with removable dentures, impaired articulation and improper prosthetics using non-removable prostheses. prostheses.

In adults, chronic periodontitis may be present for years without causing any symptoms.

In the stage of exacerbation of chronic periodontitis, the process acquires age-related features:

• Swelling of the surrounding soft tissues and local pain reaction are slightly expressed.
• Regional lymphadenitis and adenophlegmon quite rarely accompany exacerbation of periodontitis.
• With the rapid development of the process, the formation of a subperiosteal abscess is possible along the transitional fold near the diseased tooth.
• After opening such an abscess, fistulas form, from which pus is separated. These fistulas are localized on the vestibular side of the alveolar process in the projection of the tooth root. Such fistulas in elderly debilitated people heal for quite a long time, existing for years.

That is why chronic periodontitis may not worsen for a very long time. With a long process, pus appears through the periodontal gap.

Main characteristics of chronic periodontitis in adults

With fibrous periodontitis, a narrowed periodontal gap or its complete absence is detected on the radiograph, and the root of the tooth may take on the appearance, as in hypercementosis. With the granulomatous nature of periodontitis & nbsp; the bone tissue at the edges of the granuloma blocks x-rays more, so it looks sclerotic.

The above-described localization of fistulas, mild purulent discharge, lack of granulations and a long course without a tendency to close the fistulous tract are characteristic signs of the course of chronic periodontitis in the elderly.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the development of chronic periodontitis in people of different ages, the specialist must ensure that possible complications of periodontitis in children and the elderly are avoided. Timely diagnosis of the process can prevent complications of periodontitis. Thus, knowledge of the characteristics of the course of chronic periodontitis in different age groups reduces the likelihood of developing fistulas in the elderly and the cessation of tooth formation in children.