3 - Supportive Periodontal Care

Question 1

Who requires supportive periodontal care?

Answer 1

• all patients who have been diagnosed with periodontitis in their life
• if struggling to maintain remission, may be referred to specialist

Question 2

Why is supportive periodontal care important?

Answer 2

• those who are not supervised in a recall system show significant signs of recurrent periodontitis
• the more patients present for SPT the less likely they are to lose teeth

Question 3

How is it determined that a patient required SPT?

Answer 3

Risk assessment based on many factors

Question 4

What are the steps of SPT?

Answer 4

1. Examination
2. Treatment
3. Report, clean up and scheduling

Question 5

Describe the first step of SPT.

Answer 5

Examination
- assess MH
- oral mucosa exam
- evaluate any restorations, occlusion, mobility, BOP etc
- analyse OH status
- look for changes since last evaluation

Question 6

Describe the second step of SPT.

Answer 6

Treatment
- OHI
- supra gingival scaling
- RSD (do not instrument quadrants, only sites)
- polishing

Question 7

Describe the third step of SPT.

Answer 7

Report, clean up and scheduling
- write up report in chart
- discuss report with patient
- schedule recall
- schedule further treatment if required