Diseases that affect dental and oral health and can also have an impact on the entire organism are manifold.
They affect not only the dental hard tissues and the endodont (dental nerve and blood vessels) they surround, but also the periodontium (periodontal apparatus), the oral mucosa, the jaws and temporomandibular joints, and the muscles of the craniomandibular system (from Latin cranium: skull, mandibula: lower jaw).
Unfortunately, the majority of people have to deal with one or another disease of the dental, oral and jaw system in the course of their lives. Despite all efforts to raise awareness, caries (tooth decay), gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (inflammation of the periodontium associated with bone loss) are still among the most widespread diseases.
Quite widespread, but by far not as well known, are functional disorders that are summarized under the term craniomandibular dysfunction – CMD for short. These have their origin primarily in damaging habits such as bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), which disturbs the harmonious interaction of teeth, jaw joints and masticatory muscles, and puts more strain on the masticatory system than nature intended and ultimately overtaxes it.
The most important diseases of the dental, oral and jaw system are presented below.
