title: Emerging concepts in periodontal therapy.
abstract: Conventional periodontal therapy consists of mechanical scaling and root planing, and surgical treatment. This is still the mainstay of periodontal treatment. Adjunctive antimicrobial treatments, both systemic and local delivery, are becoming more sophisticated and useful in the treatment of recurrent periodontitis. Also very promising are adjunctive treatments that modulate the host response and decrease levels of destructive pro-inflammatory cytokines or matrix metalloproteinases. Smoking is a major risk factor for periodontitis and has a profound impact on the progression of periodontal bone and attachment loss. In the interest of improved periodontal health patients should be encouraged to stop smoking. Finally bacterial endotoxins that stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines can have systemic effects and may lead to pre-term, low birthweight babies, and cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and stroke. Health professionals need to be cognisant of the effect dental health can have on systemic diseases and refer for treatment when appropriate to ensure that optimum oral and systemic health is achieved for their patients.
authors.affiliation: Periodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greenwell
authors.forename: Nabil F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Bissada
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014260:Triclosan / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004164:Diphosphonates; D014260:Triclosan