Exam 17: Periodontal Maintenance and Prevention

Studies have shown that patients receiving periodontal treatment lose fewer teeth than patients who do not receive treatment.Periodontal maintenance treatment is critical to the reduction of tooth mortality.

Patients with periodontal disease are at a greater risk of root caries because they have:

Phase _______ of periodontal therapy includes a review of the medical history; dental and periodontal examinations; caries detection; plaque biofilm,calculus,and stain removal; fluoride therapy; and referral to specialists as indicated.

Use the following case description to complete the following exercises. Mr.JTM, a 70-year-old man with a complex medical history and moderate-to-advanced periodontitis and extensive restorative dental treatment, reports to the dental hygienist for his annual dental checkup.During the clinical assessment, the dental hygienist notices moderate plaque biofilm accumulation.The patient reports that a few teeth are sensitive and that he has a "dry mouth." The patient is less than enthusiastic about discussing his daily home care protocol and wants to know how long the appointment will take. -The most likely contributing factor to the patient's complaint of "sensitive teeth" would be:

Phase _______ of periodontal therapy includes plaque biofilm control,dietary analysis and modification,and scaling and root planing.

To prevent disease,the role of the dental hygienist does not include the need to emphasize the significance of personal oral hygiene or to review the appropriate plaque biofilm removal techniques during each maintenance visit.

A standardized plaque biofilm control program for all patients is the best way to ensure that each patient is adequately educated in home care procedures.Printed material,rather than chairside instruction,is a superior means of informing patients of oral hygiene needs.

On examination,a soft,dark brown lesion is found on the cervical cementum of tooth #28,but the patient reports no discomfort in that area.What is the most likely cause of the lesion?

During Phase _______ of periodontal therapy,corrective surgical and restorative procedures are performed as indicated.

Daily application at home of 5000 parts per million (ppm)fluoride gel is an effective method to prevent root caries.The most effective fluoride gel preparation for root caries control has not been determined.

Successful prevention of gingival and periodontal diseases begins with good personal oral hygiene to eliminate the etiologic factors that can lead to pathogenesis.

Which agent has been demonstrated to be an effective desensitizer for sensitive teeth?

Supragingival plaque biofilm control is important to emphasize with patients in the maintenance program because it:

During the maintenance appointment,a periodontal evaluation is mandatory to assess the current periodontal status of the patient.What components are included in the periodontal evaluation?

Periodontal maintenance emphasizes the link between preventive oral health care and dental hygiene care with the goal of achieving optimal oral health.

The secondary objective of periodontal maintenance is preserving the stable state achieved during the active phase of periodontal therapy.

Phase _____ of periodontal therapy is initiated immediately after re-evaluation to ensure the stability of results attained during the initial phase.

The goal of Phase _______ of periodontal therapy is to provide reconstructive or surgical therapy to improve further the periodontal condition and increase the ability of the patient to perform adequate daily oral hygiene.

The dental hygienist notices that Mr.JTM has bubbly and ropy saliva,which increases the concern about xerostomia; consequently,the dental hygienist adds fluoride therapy to Mr.JTM's treatment plan.The most appropriate fluoride regimen would include:

Managing dentinal hypersensitivity begins with recommending the use of fluoride toothpaste because hypersensitivity is more often related to root caries than to the exposure of root surfaces.