Other risk factors that are thought to increase the risk, severity and speed of development of periodontal disease include tobacco use, general health conditions, medications, stress, genetics, hormonal changes and poor nutrition. Attachment loss is the places where disease has caused damage to the roots of the teeth and gum tissue loss. Probing depth is depth of a periodontal pocket. Periodontal disease affects the mass of tissue in the oral cavity, which is equivalent in size to the skin on an arm that extends from the wrist to the elbow. Smoking may be responsible for more than half of the cases of periodontal disease among adults in this country.
Stress can affect periodontal disease and can make the infection more severe and harder to fight.
A recent study found high levels of financial stress and poor coping abilities increase twofold the likelihood of developing periodontal disease. 4 Periodontal disease is major cause of tooth loss in adults. 5 A growing body of research links periodontal disease to heart disease, diabetes, preterm and low birth weight babies, and respiratory disease. The American Academy of Periodontology, founded in 1914, is a 7,000 member association of dental professionals specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and in the placement and treatment of dental implants. Periodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.