Necrotizing periodontal diseases

Necrotizing periodontal diseases are a type of inflammatory periodontal (gum) disease caused by bacteria (notably fusobacteria and spirochaete species). The diseases appear to represent different severities or stages of the same disease process, although this is not completely certain. These diseases usually have a sudden onset, and so the term acute is often added to the diagnosis. The mildest on the spectrum is necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG), followed by the successively more severe conditions necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP), necrotizing stomatitis and finally cancrum oris (noma), which is frequently fatal.