Summary Periodontal therapy involves many factors and events, including probing, radiographs, diagnosis, case typing, treatment planning, scaling, irrigating, surgery, prescribing, re-evaluating, and perio maintenance, among others. Some or all of these activities are necessary to arrive at a successful clinical outcome; however, only one of them determines the longevity of our successful treatment results. It’s all about perio maintenance. Perio maintenance is every three months for life – the life of the patient or life of the dentition. This is not an arbitrary interval. When a biofilm is forming, the early colonizing bacteria are not pathogenic; they cannot cause perio disease. If this biofilm is not eliminated or adequately dismantled,

Summary “For more than a decade, a body of scientific study has developed, which has identified a relationship between oral health and overall health. These studies have focused on the correlation between chronic oral infection and inflammation (periodontal or gum disease) and several medical conditions: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, pregnancy, and some cancers.” “In fact, 120 disease symptoms can be detected in the mouth by a dentist and one of two people in the United States has some form of periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. It is the most significant dental disease affecting adults

Summary A. Periodontal disease is a chronic and progressive disease. In most cases it can be successfully treated and controlled. Early treatment of periodontal disease is not only less invasive (non-surgical), but usually results in a better long term prognosis. Left untreated, gum disease will only worsen.  B. Periodontal therapy involves more than just getting your teeth cleaned. The following comparison shows the main differences between a routine cleaning and periodontal therapy.  Except from: Dr. Robert J. Malone D.D.S.

Summary LISTERINE Antiseptic mouthrinse has a 125 year history and is the most extensively studied nonprescription mouthrinse on the market. LISTERINE Antiseptic is the only nationally branded nonprescription antimicrobial mouthrinse to carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance, and it is the number-one dentist-recommended brand of nonprescription antimicrobial mouthrinse. A hundred years after LISTERINE Antiseptic was created, the importance of preventing plaque was well established. Furthermore, studies showed that most patients are not able to adequately control plaque by brushing and flossing because of a combination of poor dexterity, insufficient time spent on oral hygiene, and the presence of implants, crowns, and braces. By the turn of the new century, LISTERINE

Extraoral examination Lip Buccal mucosa Alveolar ridge and gingiva Tongue Floor of the mouth Hard palate Soft palate and oropharynx

Summary Proper fit of a sports mouthguard or performance enhancing mouth wear is based on craniofacial neurometabolic physiology, which is how the relationship of the jaws affects an athlete’s performance. Sports dentistry includes not only protecting patients from injury, but also helping them enhance performance. Mouthguards create a cushion on potential stabilization of the temporomandibular joint. Sports dentistry is a combination of treatment and prevention.