Periodontal disease is also known as periodontal pathology and refers to a group of diseases that attack the periodontal tissues. There are a number of diseases that affect the structures supporting your teeth such as the connective fibers that anchor your teeth into the jaw bone and their sockets and your gums. However, the more common ones are the inflammatory conditions that are plaque-induced, specifically gingivitis and periodontitis. Fortunately, in some instances, gingivitis may not lead to periodontal disease.