Category: Clinical Periodontology

Introduction to periodontal instruments The re-establishment and maintenance of periodontal health are the main objectives of periodontal treatment. Local factors like plaque and calculus are the major factors for periodontal disease progression. Removal of these local factors to obtain a clean root surface is mandatory to achieve periodontal health. Periodontal instruments have been designed specifically…

Introduction to local drug delivery Topically applied antimicrobial solutions as mouth rinses have been used for many years as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control. Since oral rinses and irrigation at the gingival margin do not reach subgingival areas on a predictable basis 1, 2, a subgingival drug delivery system was desirable. The concept of…

Introduction to chemotherapeutic agents Microbial plaque is the primary etiology of periodontal diseases and its removal with mechanical therapy (such as scaling, root planing, and power instrumentation) is considered as a gold standard to achieve periodontal health. In addition to the mechanical therapy, many chemotherapeutic agents, including antimicrobials and host modulation agents have been used…

Introduction to chemical plaque control The role of dental plaque in the initiation of periodontal inflammatory diseases has been well established 1. Elimination of plaque and preventing its formation is the cornerstone of periodontal therapy. The chemical plaque control as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control has been used effectively to eliminate dental plaque. In…

Introduction to Chlorhexidine (CHX) Presently, CHX is the most effective anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis agent. It is effective against Gram +ve and Gram -ve bacteria as well as against facultative aerobes and anaerobes 126-128. It has also been shown to inhibit the growth of yeast and fungi 129. Although CHX is not considered virucidal, but it…

Introduction to brushing techniques Various brushing techniques have been advised for appropriate cleaning of teeth and removal of plaque and debris. The tooth brushing techniques which are recommended currently have been proposed in the early half of the twentieth century by various researchers. The oldest tooth brushing method was described in 1913 by Fones and…

Introduction to mechanical plaque control The mechanical plaque control by humans is as old as the history of mankind. Dental literature is full of reports stressing the importance of maintaining oral hygiene. It has been known for centuries that a good oral hygiene is the primary requirement for healthy teeth and periodontium. However, the scientific…

Introduction Achieving complete periodontal health is the ultimate goal of the periodontal therapy. A thorough understanding of the etiopathogenesis of the periodontal diseases is essential to effectively treat them and to achieve complete periodontal health. The clinician should be able to judge the periodontal condition of the patient and establish a treatment plan that effectively…

Introduction to prognosis Establishing the prognosis of periodontally involved tooth or teeth is indeed difficult. Various studies have found that it is very difficult to determine the exact prognosis of periodontally compromised teeth after their appropriate periodontal treatment. Hirschfeld and Wasserman (1978) 1 in a study evaluated 15,000 teeth in 600 patients at least 15…