Which term refers to the loss of supporting bone structure?

The term that accurately refers to the loss of supporting bone structure is moderate periodontitis. In periodontal disease, the supporting structures of the teeth, including the alveolar bone, may become compromised due to inflammatory processes resulting from plaque accumulation. Moderate periodontitis specifically indicates a significant level of this loss, typically characterized by a moderate amount of periodontal attachment loss and clinical signs of disease.

In periodontal classifications, true pocketing refers to the formation of a pathological pocket due to loss of attachment; however, it does not specifically denote the loss of bone support. Hence, while true pocketing indicates a clinical measure of advanced periodontal disease, it does not encapsulate the concept of bone loss as effectively as moderate periodontitis does.

False pocketing refers to pseudopockets where no attachment loss has occurred, thereby reflecting a gingival condition rather than a loss of bone. Mild periodontitis involves less severe attachment and bone loss compared to moderate periodontitis and is not representative of significant loss of supporting structures.

In summary, moderate periodontitis conveys both the presence of depth in periodontal pockets and the associated loss of bone structure, tying together the clinical findings with the underlying pathophysiology of the disease.