Aggressive periodontitis: the silent tooth killer.

Aggressive periodontitis comprises a group of rapidly progressive forms of periodontitis characterized by early onset of clinical manifestations at a young age and a distinctive tendency for cases to aggregate in families. Though once believed to be a rare condition, recent evidence suggest that aggressive periodontitis is more common than assumed. The etiology of aggressive periodontitis is probably due to the expression of highly virulent causative agents in combination with high levels of susceptibility of the individual patient. In addition, there are several factors, such as cigarette smoking and ethnicity, that are associated with higher prevalence or severity of aggressive periodontitis. Since the disease usually appears at a young age, the importance of early detection is paramount in order to avoid tooth loss in early childhood or adolescence.