Severe attachment loss of alveolar bone (TAL)

• Defining characteristics:
  Attachment loss is used as an indicator of periodontal disease.
  
  
• Common differential diagnoses:
  Severe loss of alveolar bone has been identified in the region around the root or roots; four red bars indicate 50% loss or grade 4 periodontal disease, and two red bars indicates between 25% and 50% loss or grade 3 periodontal disease.
  
  
• Helpful additional data:
  Has there been a decrease in appetite?  Or the patient appears hungry but is unwilling to eat?
  
  
• Commonly associated treatments:
  Consider extracting the tooth if grade 4 periodontal disease.  If lower grade, consider perioceutic treatment or root planing. 
  
  
• Commonly associated home care:
  Depending on the tooth removed, consider soft food for 1-2 weeks