Oral Health | Clinical and Risk Asessment | Assessment of disease levels and factors that will impact on periodontal status

Assessment of disease levels and factors that will impact on periodontal status
Session overview
Description
This session introduces the principles of periodontal assessment alongside other aspects of assessment for a new or returning patient. The learner will understand how screening for periodontal disease will enable the clinician to distinguish between reversible gingivitis and different levels of periodontitis, as well as gaining an understanding of the incidence of periodontal disease likely to be encountered in a general dental practice setting in the UK.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• distinguish between gingival health, gingivitis and different degrees of periodontitis
• demonstrate knowledge of the incidence of periodontal disease in the UK population
• recognise the importance of history taking in assessing periodontal disease risk
• describe how to assess oral hygiene status
• summarise and demonstrate the use of BPE in clinical practice and list the consequences of each score
• identify when and for whom a full periodontal examination is required

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should:

• be familiar with the principles of screening
• have covered information gathering and consultation skills
• have completed the e-Den sessions on dental radiography in 1 Patient assessment/Assessment methods and techniques:

- Appropriate imaging examination for a patient
- Selection criteria for radiographic examination
- Imaging techniques needed in periodontal diagnosis
- Successful radiographic techniques
- Successful diagnosis of radiographic images
- The use of advanced imaging techniques in dentistry

While gingivitis is a common condition in western populations, resulting in no irreversible damage to the periodontal tissues, periodontitis results in permanent loss of soft tissue attachment and bone. Over usually lengthy periods, such attachment loss can lead to loss of teeth which in turn can have a profound effect on an individual’s quality of life.

Periodontitis is a silent and insidious condition that, in the early stages, produces no significant signs or symptoms for patients. An essential part of initial and repeat patient assessment is the early identification of periodontal disease. This will enable the correct controlling measures to be put into place to prevent further loss of tooth support.