[The pathogenesis of and treatment principles in functional overload of the periodontium]

A total of 4864 patients (2810 women and 2054 men) aged 16 to 64 with maxillofacial abnormalities and 3686 patients (2283 women and 1403 men) aged 18 to 64 with dentition defects were examined. 2624 patients aged 19 to 62 were admitted for orthodontic treatment. Experiments on 96 dogs were carried out. Pathologic changes in the periodontal tissue were detected in 3765 (77.4%) patients with maxillofacial abnormalities and in 2918 (78.8%) with dentition defects. The author considers that two major factors contribute to the pathogenesis of functional overstrain of the periodontium: change of occlusion loading of the teeth and reduced tolerance of periodontal tissues. Good results were attained in 92.7% of patients with functional overloading of the periodontium. Dog experiments demonstrated that overexercise of teeth may lead to changes in the periodontium, which are similar to tissue restructuring in orthodontic interventions. If the periodontium is weakened, an exacerbation of periodontitis develops. After stopping of functional overstrain--repair processes in the periodontal tissues of young animals, including repair of bone tissue take place.