AAP statement perio therapy

CHICAGO, Illinois--The American Academy of Periodontology has published a detailed statement on comprehensive periodontal therapy that is intended to be a clinical road map for dental professionals who supervise, administer, teach, or regulate the provision of periodontal therapy.

Appearing in the July issue of the Journal of Periodontology, the Comprehensive Periodontal Therapy Statement provides an overview of the elements that constitute efficient and effective periodontal treatment.

According to Donald Clem, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, “It is now more important than ever to conduct a comprehensive periodontal evaluation on our patients because research has indicated that the prevalence of periodontal disease in the U.S. may have been significantly underestimated. All members of the dental team share a responsibility in the name of patient health to conduct annual comprehensive periodontal evaluations. Being thorough in evaluating periodontal health can contribute to detecting and preventing periodontal disease in our patients, and ultimately allow the dental team to provide more effective care.”

The statement outlines the important components of comprehensive periodontal therapy, including:

• Scope of periodontal therapy
• Periodontal evaluation
• Establishing a diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan
• Informed consent and patient records
• Treatment procedures
• Evaluation of therapy
• Factors modifying results
• Periodontal maintenance therapy

The statement, published in the July Journal of Periodontology, is available for public access at www.joponline.org/doi/full/10.1902/jop.2011.117001.

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The AAP recognizes that decisions with respect to the treatment of patients must be made by the individual practitioner in light of the condition and needs of each specific patient. Such decisions should be made in the best judgment of the practitioner.

For more information, send an email to [email protected], call (312) 573-3242, or visit www.aap.org.

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