title: Furcation diagnosis.
abstract: One of the most important and at present unsolved problems in clinical periodontology is the predictable successful treatment of periodontitis-affected furcations of multirooted teeth. Since several therapeutic approaches are proposed, i.e., conservative, resective or regenerative, a proper diagnosis of these lesions is demanding. The aim of the present article is to review the current information on the impact of a proper diagnosis of a furcational lesion as well as tooth morphology on decision making with regard to different treatment modalities and to emphasize the need for a detailed clinical, radiographical and intraoperative diagnosis of the furcation lesion beyond the usually performed diagnosis of the degree of furcation involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eger
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003657:Decision Making; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery