Periodontal Health and Gingival Diseases/Conditions

Vocabulary practice flashcards focusing on periodontal health, dental biofilm-induced gingivitis, modifying factors, and non-dental biofilm-induced gingival diseases and conditions.

Periodontal Health

A state clinically characterized by the absence of bleeding on probing, erythema, edema, patient symptoms, and attachment or bone loss.

Intact Periodontium

A periodontium characterized by no loss of alveolar bone or connective tissue attachment.

Reduced Periodontium

A periodontium exhibiting pre-existing loss of periodontal tissue that is not currently undergoing any active, ongoing loss.

Dental Biofilm-Induced Gingivitis

The most common form of periodontal disease, initiated by bacterial plaque accumulation and characterized by inflammation that can be papillary, marginal, or diffuse, and acute or chronic.

Non-Dental Biofilm-Induced Gingival Diseases

A major category of gingival diseases and conditions that are not caused by bacterial plaque biofilm and do not resolve solely following biofilm removal.

Modifying Factors of Biofilm-Induced Gingivitis

Systemic conditions or oral factors that alter host response and exacerbate the clinical inflammatory reaction to plaque biofilm.

Puberty-Associated Gingivitis

An exaggerated inflammatory response of the gingiva to a relatively small amount of plaque biofilm, modulated by hormonal fluctuations during puberty.

Pregnancy-Associated Gingivitis

An exaggerated inflammatory gingival response to dental biofilm mediated by gestational hormones, clinically characterized by prominent erythema and bulbous interdental papillae.

Pyogenic Granuloma (Pregnancy Tumor)

A mushroom-shaped, localized gingival vascular enlargement that bleeds easily if disturbed, frequently developing during pregnancy.

Drug-Influenced Gingival Enlargement

Gingival overgrowth caused by systemic medications, characterized by an increased flow of crevicular fluid from the sulcus, predominantly affecting the anterior sextants, and influenced by the patient's level of self-care.

Phenytoin-Induced Gingival Enlargement

Massive gingival tissue overgrowth caused by an anticonvulsant medication used to treat epileptic seizures and bipolar disorders.

Cyclosporine-Induced Gingival Enlargement

Fibrotic gingival enlargement resulting from the administration of an immunosuppressant prescribed for transplant recipients or autoimmune disease patients.

Calcium Channel Blockers

A class of cardiovascular medications prescribed for angina and high blood pressure (HBP) that can act as a modifying agent causing drug-influenced gingival enlargement.

Hyposalivation

Reduced saliva production (xerostomia), which acts as an oral factor promoting enhanced dental biofilm accumulation and retention.

Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis (HGF)

A rare genetic/developmental disorder characterized by progressive, diffuse, non-inflammatory fibrous overgrowth of the gingiva.

Allergic Gingival Reaction

A contact hypersensitivity response characterized clinically by prominent erythema extending from the gingival margin through the attached gingiva to the mucogingival junction.

Erythema Multiforme

An acute inflammatory, immune-mediated condition presenting with severe oral mucosal and gingival ulcerations and characteristic crusting of the lower lip.

Reticular Lichen Planus

A chronic autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder presenting with delicate white lines arranged in a characteristic lacy, weblike network.

Epulides

Exophytic reactive gingival processes including fibrous epulis, calcifying fibroblastic granuloma, pyogenic granuloma (vascular epulis), and peripheral giant cell granuloma.

Gingival Pigmentation

Discoloration of the gingiva that can arise from melanoplakia, smoker's melanosis, systemic medications (antimalarials, minocycline), or foreign bodies such as amalgam tattoos.