Aggressive periodontitis is a rapid form of periodontal disease that can cause bone and tooth loss, affecting younger patients and often linked to the bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Other factors, including poor oral hygiene, smoking, and genetic predisposition, may also contribute to its development.
Aggressive periodontitis is a type of periodontal disease that usually differs markedly from chronic periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis is also considered a progressive disease, but it usually progresses slowly and typically occurs in older people who suffer from chronic disease and practice poor dental hygiene. Aggressive periodontitis is thought to progress much more rapidly than chronic periodontitis and can cause bone and tooth loss. While it can be found in less than two percent of the general population, it is often found in younger patients, even children, and the disease usually affects the first molars more than the other teeth. Experts still don’t understand what causes aggressive periodontitis, but they believe it may be linked to the bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa).
Periodontitis generally causes inflammation of the gums, bone loss in the jaw, and tartar buildup both above and below the gum line. Eventually, tooth loss can occur. Aggressive periodontitis usually causes damage to the teeth and jaw three to four times faster than chronic periodontitis. This disease is often localized and affects only a few teeth.
Chronic periodontitis, on the other hand, usually affects all adult teeth. People tend to get aggressive periodontitis at a young age. Children have also been known to develop this disease, although the typical patient is an adult under the age of 35 at the onset of symptoms.
The inflammation of the gums associated with aggressive periodontitis can be serious. Symptoms can vary widely, however, from one person to another. Up to six teeth may be affected as the disease progresses.
Some experts believe that aggressive periodontitis is caused by the bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. AA is considered a very common oral bacterium, being found in up to 20% of the population in the mouth. Experts still don’t understand why, if Aa is so common, aggressive periodontitis is so rare. The AAs in most people’s mouths do the same thing that other types of bacteria typically do in the mouth, which is to form the filmy coating of the tooth known as plaque. While plaque can contribute to tooth decay and chronic periodontitis, its role in contributing to aggressive periodontitis is not yet understood.
Some experts believe that other factors may be involved in the development of aggressive periodontitis, including herpesvirus infection and Epstein-Barr virus infection. Poor oral hygiene and smoking can play a role. Some believe that psychological factors may come into play. There also appears to be a genetic component to this disease, as people who have a first-degree relative with the disease may have up to a 50% chance of developing it themselves.
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