Tooth‐Related Issues

Several conditions exist around teeth that may predispose the periodontium to disease. These situations may occur as a result of the condition or position of teeth or as a result of tooth treatment. In certain cases these tooth‐related factors may contribute to the initiation of periodontal disease. While the etiology of periodontal disease is bacterial, factors that enhance bacterial accumulation or allow the ingress of bacteria into the periodontium should be considered in the classification and diagnosis of periodontal diseases. This is because many times these tooth‐related issues can cause site‐specific problems that require treatment in an otherwise intact periodontium. Several factors related to tooth/root anatomy, restorative, and endodontic considerations have been associated with gingival inflammation, attachment loss, and bone loss. These factors will be reviewed as they relate to their potential to promote damage to the periodontium. Ann Periodontol 1999;4:91‐96.