Definition A localized purulent inflammation of the periodontal tissues. It is also known as lateral periodontal abscess or parietal abscess .
Periodontal abscesses can be acute or chronic .
After their purulent content is partially exuded, they become chronic. Chronic abscesses may produce a dull pain and may at times become acute. Clinical Findings Periodontal abscesses occur with pre-existing periodontitis. This acute infection occurs in the walls of periodontal pockets as a result of the invasion of bacteria into the periodntal tissues. While abscesses usually spontaneously occur in patients with untreated periodontitis, it is more common in periodontitis patients with a systemic disease such as diabetes, in which there is a reduced ability to combat infections.