Is there a simple comparison to help me understand more about the nature of periodontal disease; more specifically, how the gum crevice deepens to form the periodontal pocket?

Yes. Visualize the neck of the tooth encircled with a tight turtleneck sweater which represents the gingival (gum) tissue. The threads in the sweater could be compared to the tough elastic fibers which lace through the tissue.

Healthy tissue is so tight that bacterial action cannot affect it. However, if bacterial plaque is allowed to accumulate in the crevice area (where the gum tissue meets the tooth), the bacterial toxins slowly destroy the elasticity of the fibers. Then the bacteria and toxins can slip into the deeper fiber areas.

Here they find a favorable environment where they can multiply to form more colonies and more toxins. This would be similar to the turtleneck sweater being extremely stretched and loose. Now the deepest fibers and the supporting bone receive the brunt of the bacterial attack and the pocket continues to deepen.

If a pocket is 5 mm or deeper research has shown that it is impossible to clean to the bottom of the pocket with home care. This is the nature of ... more.

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