ABSTRACT
Among orthopedic surgeons, it is common practice to note the integrity of soft tissue, muscle and bone in the operative report. Direct visualization of musculoskeletal structures is possible for all practitioners who examine the oral cavity. Periodontal disease (PD) is an encompassing term for gingivitis and periodontitis. PD is the predominant underlying pathology of tooth loss. The pathophysiology of PD is the result of an inflammatory response resulting from the interaction between the pathogenic bacteria, the host's immune response, polymorph nuclear leukocytes (PMN) and heavy metal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production with depletion of glutathione. In an interesting adaptation, exotoxin-producing bacteria which inhabit the oral cavity are able to couple mercury with their biological toxin to produce an even more toxic substance.
