Periodontics · single question
A patient has recession on tooth #25 only (lower left central incisor), pocket depth 2mm, with lots of bleeding. Recession only on the buccal of #25. What is the diagnosis?
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Correct answer: D. Localized periodontitis with recession on #25
✓ D) Localized periodontitis with recession on #25 is correct.
Recession = loss of attachment (the gingival margin has migrated apically). Even with a shallow pocket depth of 2mm, the presence of recession means clinical attachment loss (CAL = recession + probing depth) has occurred — this is periodontitis, not just gingivitis. Gingivitis has NO attachment loss (gingiva may be inflamed/swollen but no bone/attachment loss). Since it's only on one tooth (#25) = LOCALIZED. Localized periodontitis with recession at #25 correctly characterizes both the inflammation (bleeding) and the irreversible attachment loss (recession).
Recession = loss of attachment (the gingival margin has migrated apically). Even with a shallow pocket depth of 2mm, the presence of recession means clinical attachment loss (CAL = recession + probing depth) has occurred — this is periodontitis, not just gingivitis. Gingivitis has NO attachment loss (gingiva may be inflamed/swollen but no bone/attachment loss). Since it's only on one tooth (#25) = LOCALIZED. Localized periodontitis with recession at #25 correctly characterizes both the inflammation (bleeding) and the irreversible attachment loss (recession).