Classification of Periodontal Diseases
Classification of Periodontal Diseases
- Last updated September 9, 2025
Objectives
By the end of these revision notes, you should be able to:
What is the Classification of Periodontal Diseases?
Until recently, UK dentists used the 1999 Armitage classification for periodontal disease. This divided periodontitis into chronic and aggressive forms. However, this system was limited due to:
- Its failure to account for disease progression and risk factors
- Its failure to manage the significant overlap between categories
As a result, in 2017, the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) introduced a new classification. This was then also adopted by the British Society of Periodontology (BSP), with a clearer and more clinically relevant system.
This Revision Note will describe the classification of periodontal diseases, with greater detail on periodontitis.
Categories of Periodontal Diseases
There are four broad categories as part of the classification:
1) Periodontal Health, Gingival Diseases and Conditions
- Periodontal health (intact periodontium)
- Periodontal health (reduced periodontium*)
- Gingivitis: dental biofilm-induced (intact periodontium)
- Gingivitis: dental biofilm-induced (reduced periodontium*)
- Gingival disease and conditions: non biofilm-induced – this may be due to trauma, systemic disease, genetic disorders etc.
*Reduced due to causes other than periodontitis e.g. surgery.
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