Chronic periodontitis exacerbated by occlusal trauma: report of a case and revision of literature

Abstract

Occlusal trauma has been associated with periodontal disease 100 years ago, but only observationally. Since the 1930s, the effect of excessive occlusal forces on the periodontium has been evaluated at the pre-clinical level. At first, studies on animal and human autopsy material showed no association between occlusal discrepancies and periodontal destruction. However, in the last 10 years new evidence has emerged that today allows us to establish a relationship between both clinical entities. The latest review on the subject published in 2015, states that at the moment there is a lack of strong evidence to assume a relation of cause/effect between periodontitis and excessive occlusal forces. The objective of this study is to report a clinical case related to a patient with no previous medical history, with an oral diagnosis of an advanced chronic periodontitis, in which the existing occlusal trauma was recognized as a possible accelerating and/or aggravating factor. In addition there is an update of the focused theme.