Which statement is true regarding periodontitis?

Periodontitis is a serious gum disease that damages the soft tissue and can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. The statement that periodontitis is the primary cause of tooth loss after the age of 3 aligns with the understanding of periodontal disease and its impact on oral health.

Periodontitis leads to the loss of attachment of the periodontal structures, which can result in tooth mobility and ultimately tooth loss if not managed properly. It is often more prevalent in adults, but the progression can begin earlier in life, making it a significant concern for maintaining dental health over a person's lifetime.

Other conditions, such as dental caries (cavities), can also lead to tooth loss, but periodontitis is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, particularly as they age and the prevalence of periodontal disease increases with poor oral hygiene, smoking, and other risk factors. This aligns with studies and statistics in dental health literature, emphasizing the importance of prevention and treatment of periodontitis to enhance longevity of teeth.

The unaffected options reflect other aspects of periodontal disease management but do not convey as accurately the specific relationship of periodontitis to tooth loss as the correct choice. For example, while antibiotics can be useful in managing