title: The role of periodontal maintenance in dental practice.
abstract: Periodontal maintenance therapy is dependent both upon methods of disease control that are either patient or therapist applied as well as on compliance with regular recall schedules. Recent advances in the design and use of mechanical aids for plaque removal, electric toothbrush design, use of chemotherapeutic plaque control agents, and evaluations of the role of maintenance therapy in practice are included. Numerous studies indicate that compliance with recall intervals may be difficult to achieve but is essential to the success of periodontal therapy. Suggestions for approaches to effective periodontal maintenance therapy are provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Allied Dental Programs, Indiana University School of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Newell
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012648:Self Care; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents