title: Long-term assessment of periodontal surgery versus curettage or scaling and root planing.
abstract: The various treatments for periodontal disease must be assessed in light of the recently articulated goals of periodontal therapy to preserve teeth for a lifetime and to enhance esthetics and comfort as well as oral health. This article examines the long-term comparisons of periodontal surgery, curettage, and scaling and root planing in improving attachment levels instead of the more traditional pocket depth.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ramfjord
mesh_terms: D012534:Dental Scaling; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical