Dos and don'ts for periodontal disease

Educating patients about gum disease

Periodontal disease is often perceived as an "invisible" disease by patients because it is relatively painless and asymptomatic, especially in its early stages. But left untreated, it can lead to eventual tooth loss. A concentrated effort to educate patients about periodontal disease will result in their improved oral health.

Develop a periodontal program. Given the fact that periodontal disease is at epidemic levels in many parts of the U.S., it is extremely important that practices develop an effective periodontal program. Promoting initial therapy to patients with periodontal disease will improve their health and increase practice production.

Don't overlook periodontal probing. The majority of practices do not probe and record pocket depths on an annual basis for every patient. Despite all the different diagnostic approaches to detecting periodontal disease, periodontal probing is still the most critical. It definitively measures pocket depths, which provides doctors with the necessary diagnostic information on whether to recommend initial therapy and other periodontal treatment.