Periodontal supportive therapy

Question 1

What’s supportive therapy

Answer 1

Phase of a patient’s management directed at preventing relapse or recurrence of periodontal disease after intensive periodontal therapy

Question 2

Describe re-instrumentation

Answer 2

• Supportive therapy disrupts plaque flora & it takes time to establish a complex and more pathogenic plaque
• Calculus can be removed
• Repeated sub gingival scaling may leave grooves & furrows - plaque retentive factors

Question 3

What is the risk assessment and evaluation for the patient

Answer 3

• Systemic factors
• Smoking
• Compliance

Question 4

What is the risk assessment and evaluation for the tooth

Answer 4

• Position in the arch
• Morphology
• Furcation involvement

Question 5

What is the risk assessment and evaluation for the tooth site

Answer 5

• Pockets
• Bleeding on probing of site:
• Less than 10% = low risk of recurrence
• More than 25% = high risk of recurrence

Question 6

What must you do during the supportive periodontal treatment hour

Answer 6

1. Update the medical and dental history
2. Assess the oral hygiene and plaque scores, as well as smoking
3. Carry out clinical examination and diagnosis

Question 7

What does oral hygiene motivation and compliance depend on

Answer 7

• Use of brushes – powered or manual
• Interdental cleaning
• Instrumentation of reinfected sites (probing pocket depth more than 4mm and sites with bleeding on probing)

Question 8

What will happen if patients do not have supportive therapy

Answer 8

• Higher incidences of tooth loss and recurrent periodontal diseases
• Without this, the effect of the initial and corrective phases can’t be maintained