Periodontitis–Disease and Treatment – A Review

Periodontal disease is a term that encompasses several pathological conditions affecting the tooth supporting structures. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by groups of specific microorganisms. Aggressive forms of periodontitis can be localized or generalized. Various drug delivery systems are used to treat this condition. Intra pocket dental films could be easily placed into the periodontal pocket, and be capable of delivering therapeutic concentrations of drug for prolonged period of time at a much lower dose, hence obviating untoward side effects. The concept that localized problem sites may be treated by local drug delivery appears attractive as the antimicrobial agent is delivered within periodontal pockets and the therapy is targeted on specific pathogenic microorganisms. Local delivery of antimicrobial agents using controlled release systems should be considered as adjunctive to mechanical debridement for the treatment of localized forms of periodontal destruction.