Oxygen radicals play an important part in the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory diseases of the periodontal tissue. For the health of the periodontium therefore a normal level and function of the physiological antioxidant system controlling radical formation is essential. Part of the antioxidant system is also vitamin C which participates in the detoxication of radicals and thus contributes also to the minimalization of tissue destruction, initiated by increased radical formation associated with the development of periodontopathies. In case of deficiency of the antioxidant system irreversible changes develop on the periodontium, these changes being associated with the morphological, functional and clinical picture of periodonto- pathies.

        Key words: oxygen radicals – lipid peroxidation – antioxidant system – ascorbic acid – etiopathogenesis – periodontopathy