FIGURE 2.

Development of gingivitis and periodontitis. Following dental plaque accumulation, neutrophils dominate the host immune response, accompanied by progression of an early or stable gingivitis lesion, along with increased infiltration of macrophages and T cells. The gingivitis lesion develops into a periodontitis lesion, which is characterized by formation of a pathogenic periodontal pocket and destruction of periodontal tissues. Infiltrated lymphocytes are dominated by B and plasma cells.