%0 Journal Article
%T Reflections on Aggressive Periodontitis as a Disease Entity
%A Rodrigo L¨®pez
%A Vibeke Baelum
%J Dental Hypotheses
%D 2010
%I Dental Hypotheses
%X The current periodontitis paradigm embraces the idea of the existence of several particular disease entities. Among them, aggressive periodontitis has been defined as a particular form of periodontitis characterized by severe periodontal destruction usually affecting persons under 30 years of age and presenting with clearly identifiable clinical and laboratory features. Nonetheless, considerable het-erogeneity exists in the criteria used to identify the disease; only scant evidence exists substantiating the suggested distinct features; and several voices have expressed concerns on the suggested ad-vantages of considering aggressive periodontitis as a particular disease entity. The main explanation for this impasse can be found in the deep rooted belief that periodontitis is a group of particular clinical entities. This approach to periodontal disease is based on an es-sentialistic understanding of illness that obstructs advance in periodontal research. The use of a pragmatic nominalistic approach to periodontal dis-eases would provide a more rational framework for understanding periodontal health and disease and would easy the conduct of periodontal research. The implications of using a pragmatic definition of periodontitis are discussed.
%K Aggressive periodontitis
%K Chronic periodontitis
%K Diagno-sis
%K Disease
%K Essentialism
%K Nominalism
%K Periodontal diseases
%K Periodontitis
%K Syndrome
%U http://www.dentalhypotheses.com/downloadpdf.asp?issn=2155-8213;year=2010;volume=1;issue=1;spage=31;epage=38;aulast=L%F3pez;type=2