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Ann Periodontol
Consensus Report: Abscesses of the Periodontium
The group accepted the review paper written prior to
the workshop. The group agreed that classification of
periodontal abscesses is primarily based on location
of the infection. Abscesses of the periodontium may
be associated with various combinations of the fol-
lowing clinical features: pain, swelling, color change,
tooth mobility, extrusion of teeth, purulence, sinus tract
formation, fever, lymphadenopathy, and radiolucency
of the affected alveolar bone. All of these features need
not be present in every periodontal abscess. The
lesions can be of short or long duration.
The group agreed upon the following simple clas-
sification for Abscesses of the Periodontium:
VI. Abscesses of the Periodontium
A. Gingival abscess
B. Periodontal abscess
C. Pericoronal abscess
The following working definitions for these lesions
were developed by the group:
Gingival abscess. A localized purulent infection that
involves the marginal gingiva or interdental papilla.
Periodontal abscess. A localized purulent infection
within the tissues adjacent to the periodontal pocket
that may lead to the destruction of periodontal ligament
and alveolar bone.
Pericoronal abscess. A localized purulent infection
within the tissue surrounding the crown of a partially
erupted tooth.
GROUP MEMBERS
Niklaus Lang, Group Leader Huan Xin Meng
W.A. Soskolne, Chair Michael Newman
Gary Greenstein, Secretary M. John Novak
David Cochran Howard Tenenbaum
Esmonde Corbet
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