Types of Bone Defects
- Horizontal defects
- Vertical or angular defects
- Fenestrations
- Dehiscences

Characteristics of Horizontal Defects
- Generalised bone loss occurs most frequently as horizontal bone loss.
- Horizontal bone loss manifests as a uniform decrease in the height of the bone in relation to the teeth.
- Radiographs can indicate the presence of horizontal defects.
- Triangulation is a triangular area of missing bone commonly seen in horizontal defects.
- Horizontal defects usually occur adjacent to a tooth.

References
- Carranza, FA: Bone Loss and Patterns of Bone Destruction. In Newman, MG; Takei, HH; Carranza, FA; editors: Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 9th Edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2002. page 363.
- Robert P. Langlais; Craig S. Miller (2003). Color Atlas of Common Oral Diseases. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp.74–. ISBN978-0-7817-3385-4.
- Capnocytophaga sp.
- Preston D. Miller
- Willoughby D. Miller

Other Specialties Related to Periodontal Disease
- Endodontology
- Orthodontology
- Prosthodontology
- Dentistry

Hidden Categories
- Articles with short description
- Short description with empty Wikidata description

In periodontal disease, not only does the bone that supports the teeth, known as alveolar bone, reduce in height in relation to the teeth, but the morphology of the remaining alveolar bone is altered. The bone destruction patterns that occur as a result of periodontal disease generally take on characteristic forms.

This X-ray film displays a horizontal defect.
This X-ray film displays two lone-standing mandibular teeth, #21 and #22: the lower left first premolar and canine, exhibiting severe bone loss of 30-50%. Widening of the PDL surrounding the premolar is likely due to secondary oclcusal trauma.
chevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram