title: A practicable approach for periodontal classification.
abstract: The Diagnosis and classification of periodontal diseases has remained a dilemma since long. Two distinct concepts have been used to define diseases: Essentialism and Nominalism. Essentialistic concept implies the real existence of disease whereas; nominalistic concept states that the names of diseases are the convenient way of stating concisely the endpoint of a diagnostic process. It generally advances from assessment of symptoms and signs toward knowledge of causation and gives a feasible option to name the disease for which etiology is either unknown or it is too complex to access in routine clinical practice. Various classifications have been proposed by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) in 1986, 1989 and 1999. The AAP 1999 classification is among the most widely used classification. But this classification also has demerits which provide impediment for its use in day to day practice. Hence a classification and diagnostic system is required which can help the clinician to access the patient's need and provide a suitable treatment which is in harmony with the diagnosis for that particular case. Here is an attempt to propose a practicable classification and diagnostic system of periodontal diseases for better treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Periodontics, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Ferozepur, India.
authors.forename: Vishnu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Ferozepur, India.
authors.forename: Raman Preet K
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bhullar
authors.affiliation: ITS Dental College Hospital and Research Centre, Greater Noida, India.
authors.forename: Rachita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Ferozepur, India.
authors.forename: Karanprakash
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Departments of Periodontics, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, India.
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhalodi
authors.affiliation: Departments of Periodontics, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Ferozepur, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Paramjit K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Khinda
keywords: Classification; periodontal disease; practicable classification