Introduction to scaling and root planing The periodontal treatment is initiated with the removal of bacterial deposits and calculus from the tooth surfaces to obtain a biologically acceptable root surface. At the same time, every effort is made to protect the healthy periodontal tissue from any damage. Supra- and subgingival scaling is a routine procedure…
Read MoreIntroduction to scaling and root planing Term scaling refers to the instrumentation of the crown and root surfaces of the teeth to remove plaque, calculus, and stains from these surfaces 1. Root planing is defined as a treatment procedure designed to remove cementum or surface dentin that is rough, impregnated with calculus, or contaminated with…
Read MoreIntroduction to periodontal instrumentation The accurate use of periodontal instruments is fundamental for appropriate periodontal treatment. The outcome of periodontal therapy to a great extent depends on the operator’s skill to use the periodontal instruments in an accurate manner, following the principles of instrumentation. With clinical experience, the principles of periodontal instrumentation can be mastered.…
Read MoreIntroduction 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…
Read MoreIntroduction 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…
Read MoreIntroduction 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…
Read MoreIntroduction 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…
Read MoreIntroduction 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…
Read MoreIntroduction to disclosing agents Disclosing agents are the solutions or wafers capable of staining bacterial deposits on the surface of teeth, tongue or gingiva. These are very effective tools in patient education and motivation, helping them to perform adequate plaque control. The disclosing agents in solution form are applied on the teeth either in concentrated…
Read MoreIntroduction 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…
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