What term describes bone loss around teeth due to inflammatory periodontal disease?

• A. Alveolar resorption
• B. Osteitis
• C. Periodontal bone loss
• D. Periapical bone loss

Answer: (C)

Bone loss around teeth caused by inflammatory periodontal disease is described as periodontal bone loss. When periodontitis inflames and damages the supporting tissues, the alveolar bone that anchors teeth is resorbed, leading to the characteristic bone loss seen around the roots. This term directly ties the bone destruction to the periodontal disease, making it the precise description for this situation. In contrast, bone loss at the tooth apex (periapical bone loss) comes from pulpal infection, osteitis refers to bone inflammation in a broader sense, and alveolar resorption is a more general phrase that doesn’t specifically name the periodontal disease process.