title: Periodic health examination, 1993 update: 3. Periodontal diseases: classification, diagnosis, risk factors and prevention. Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the 1979 Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination recommendations on the diagnosis and prevention of periodontal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-care at home, professional care, treatment with antimicrobial agents and management of patients at high risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maintaining the gingiva, alveolar bone and periodontal ligament in a healthy state (absence of gingival bleeding and no loss of epithelial attachment).
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search for articles published from 1980 to 1993 was conducted. Selected studies published before 1980 were also reviewed if there were no recent updates. Evidence was evaluated and classified as good, fair or poor according to the criteria of the task force.
  
  
  METHODS
  The task force's evidence-based rules for recommendations were used. In addition, whenever feasible, and on the basis of advice from the reviewers and experts, recommendations were modified in the interest of maintaining oral health (e.g., dental flossing in children).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The recommendations are not expected to increase the costs of preventing periodontal diseases for the general population. They could benefit dental patients and reduce costs because they are based on the periodontal needs of patients rather than on the current universal application approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003741:Dental Deposits / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors