Dental Hygiene / Dental Assistant: Diseases & Disorders

Diseases & Disorders in Dentistry

Periodontitis also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Periodontitis can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.

• Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease (periodontal disease) that causes irritation, redness and swelling (inflammation) of your gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of your teeth.

Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. Also called tooth decay or caries.

Dental plaque is a sticky, colorless or pale yellow film that is constantly forming on your teeth.

A periapical abscess is a collection of pus at the root of a tooth, usually caused by an infection that has spread from a tooth to the surrounding tissues.

• Acute apical abscess is the most common form of dental abscess and is caused by infection of the root canal of the tooth. 
• Periodontal abscess is usually found deep in the gum pockets (between the teeth and gums).
• Chronic Apical Abscess is an inflammatory reaction to pulpal infection and necrosis characterized by gradual onset, little or no discomfort, and the intermittent discharge of pus through an associated sinus tract.

Malocclusion of the teeth is when your teeth are misaligned

Halitosis is an oral health problem where the main symptom is bad smelling breath.

Dry mouth, or xerostomia refers to a condition in which the salivary glands in your mouth don't make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet.

Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore in the mouth that does not go away. Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat).

Impacted tooth - a tooth did not erupt (break through the gum) when it should have.

Tooth injuries such as broken or chipped teeth

Pulpitis is painful inflammation of the tooth pulp, the innermost part of the tooth that contains the nerves and blood supply.

Oral Health 

Good Oral Health Basics

offers engaging and brief videos of topics like wisdom teeth.

BIO205 Oral Bacteria

DA F151 Dental Infection Control 

WebMD: Oral Care

Information on bad breath, dry mouth, canker sores, TMD, tooth decay from WebMD.

Merck Manual Dental Disorders 

NIDCR Diseases and Conditions

A starting point for finding online information by topic at NIDCR and other government agencies. Some topics include Burning Mouth, TMJ, Gum Disease, Tooth Decay, plus many other subjects related to oral health.

Types of Malocclusions and How Orthodontic Treatment Helps

Oral Inflammations and Systemic Diseases

Gingival Diseases 

Prevention, Detection and Management of Oral Cancer