Assignment: Supportive Periodontal Therapy Intervals

Assignment: Supportive Periodontal Therapy Intervals

By: Aoife Malone, 1st year Dental Hygiene

Date: 06/05/16

Key words:

• Periodontal Maintenance Procedures

• Supportive Periodontal Treatment

• Supportive Periodontal Therapy

• Recalls

• Periodontal Maintenance Therapy

Introduction:

Supportive Periodontal Treatment is an extension of periodontal therapy. Procedures performed at selected intervals to assist the periodontal patient in maintaining oral health. These usually consist of examination, an evaluation of oral hygiene and nutrition, scaling, root debridement and polishing of teeth. (Loe, H et al 1996) these procedures are performed at different intervals to a periodontal patient in maintaining oral health. Supportive periodontal therapy

The two major threats to oral health, dental caries and periodontal disease, can almost always be controlled if clients adopt appropriate oral health behaviours. (Craig, B et al 1996)A review of the literature indicates that many factors determine whether or not a client will adopt appropriate oral health behaviours. These factors include demographics, socialization, emotional status, perceptions and dental beliefs. (Craig, B et al 1996)Determining a client 's attitudes towards oral health requires the active participation of both the client and the dental hygienist. Interview techniques borrowed from participatory and ethnographic research can be used during the assessment phase of the dental hygiene process to allow the dental hygienist to systematically explore the factors that may affect the practice of preventive oral health behaviours. (Craig, B et al 1996) Data gathered during this phase can then be used in the planning phase of the dental hygiene process to develop a strategy which is specifically designed to meet the assessed needs of the individual client. (Craig, B et al

The dentist is the first point of call for the patient. (Derhalli. M, 2016). The dental hygienist will then follow on from the active periodontal therapy to the supportive periodontal therapy. It will depend on the treatment carried out and the reoccurrence of periodontal disease to the patient. Oral hygiene regimes are the bases for the maintenance of the periodontal disease and the upkeep of the treatment carried out. It is important to note that the recall time varies greatly from patient to patient. (Derhalli. M, 2016) It can vary from several weeks to three months or six months. It is important to note that each patient has different elements or their oral health which might need more attention than others. As dental hygienists it is important to know the difference in the treatment carried out and needed for each individual and that it of high standard and