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NON-SURGICAL THERAPY vs. SURGICAL THERAPY IN PERIODONTICS
Comprehensive Postgraduate Theory Examination Notes
SECTION 1: DEFINITION AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
1.1 Non-Surgical Therapy - Definition
"The term nonsurgical therapy includes the use of oral hygiene self-care, periodontal instrumentation, and chemotherapeutic agents to prevent, arrest, or eliminate periodontal disease."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants (Rose, Mealey, Genco, Cohen)
Non-surgical therapy is also referred to as:
- Phase I Therapy
- Cause-related therapy
- Initial therapy
- Etiotropic phase
The non-surgical approach was championed by Isadore Hirschfeld (1882-1965) of New York.
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
1.2 Surgical Therapy - Definition
Surgical therapy comprises Phase II therapy and includes all procedures performed with an incision through the gingival tissues to gain direct access to the root surface and alveolar bone.
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition (Box 41-1: Phases of Periodontal Therapy)
SECTION 2: PHASES OF PERIODONTAL THERAPY (FLOWCHART)
FLOWCHART: SEQUENCE OF PERIODONTAL THERAPY
(Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition - Box 41-1)
PRELIMINARY PHASE
|
v
Treatment of emergencies (Dental / Periodontal / Other)
|
Extraction of hopeless teeth + provisional replacement
|
v
PHASE I: NONSURGICAL PHASE (Cause-Related Therapy)
|
+-- Plaque control and patient education
+-- Diet control (in patients with rampant caries)
+-- Removal of calculus and root planing
+-- Correction of restorative and prosthetic irritational factors
+-- Excavation of caries and restoration
+-- Antimicrobial therapy (local or systemic)
+-- Occlusal therapy
+-- Minor orthodontic movement
+-- Provisional splinting and prosthesis
|
v
EVALUATION / REEVALUATION OF RESPONSE TO PHASE I
(4-6 weeks post-treatment; rechecking: pocket depth,
gingival inflammation, plaque, calculus, caries)
|
v
+-- If health ACHIEVED --> PHASE IV (Maintenance)
|
+-- If health NOT ACHIEVED --> PHASE II (Surgical Phase)
|
v
PHASE IV: MAINTENANCE PHASE (runs concurrently)
|
v
PHASE II: SURGICAL PHASE (if indicated)
|
+-- Periodontal surgery including placement of implants
+-- Endodontic therapy
|
v
PHASE III: RESTORATIVE PHASE
|
+-- Final restorations
+-- Fixed and removable prosthodontic appliances
+-- Evaluation of response to restorative procedures
|
v
PHASE IV: MAINTENANCE PHASE (long-term)
"Phase I, or the nonsurgical phase, is directed to the elimination of the etiologic factors of gingival and periodontal diseases. When successfully performed, this phase stops the progression of dental and periodontal disease."
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
"Immediately after completion of Phase I therapy, the patient should be placed on the maintenance phase (Phase IV) to preserve the results obtained and prevent any further deterioration and recurrence of disease. While on the maintenance phase, with its periodic checkups and controls, the patient enters into the surgical phase (Phase II) and restorative (reparative) phase (Phase III) of treatment."
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
SECTION 3: NON-SURGICAL THERAPY - DETAILED ANALYSIS
3.1 Rationale and Evidence Base
"Instrumentation performed as a part of nonsurgical therapy is aimed directly at changing the prevalence of certain periodontal pathogens or reducing the levels of these microorganisms. Whether by direct removal of pathogenic organisms and their byproducts or removal of contributing factors such as calculus and overhanging restorations, the goal is to decrease the quantity of organisms below a critical mass and alter the composition of the remaining bacterial flora to one associated with health. Thus equilibrium between the remaining bacterial plaque and host response can be reached, resulting in a clinical state of periodontal health."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
3.2 Components of Non-Surgical Therapy
| Component | Description |
|---|
| Patient Education / OHI | Instruction in oral hygiene self-care; toothbrushing, interdental cleaning |
| Supragingival Scaling | Removal of supragingival calculus and plaque |
| Subgingival Scaling | Removal of subgingival calculus and plaque |
| Root Planing (Root Surface Instrumentation - RSI) | Smoothing of root surface; removal of contaminated cementum |
| Debridement | Disruption/removal of subgingival biofilm |
| Chemotherapeutic Agents | Local and systemic antimicrobials; antiseptics |
| Occlusal therapy | Elimination of occlusal trauma |
| Correction of iatrogenic factors | Removal of overhanging restorations, ill-fitting appliances |
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants; Non-Surgical Control of Periodontal Diseases (Levi et al., Springer 2016)
3.3 Microbial Changes Following Non-Surgical Therapy
"Subgingival instrumentation results in a significant reduction of gram-negative anaerobic organisms and encourages repopulation with gram-positive cocci and rods associated with health. Levels of spirochetes, motile microbes, and specific periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, as well as Bacteroides species, are significantly reduced after scaling and root planing. Reduction in inflammatory cytokines that are responsible for tissue damage observed in gingivitis and periodontitis occurs subsequent to shifts in microbial composition. These microbial changes are most likely transient in nature, and periodic scaling and root planing must be performed to sustain positive results."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
3.4 Clinical Outcomes of Non-Surgical Therapy (Quantified Data)
"Changes in probing depth and attachment levels after scaling and root planing vary depending on initial measurements and generally reflect the combination of a gain in clinical attachment and resolution of edema or shrinkage (recession)."
| Initial Probing Depth | Mean Probing Depth Reduction | Mean Attachment Gain/Loss |
|---|
| 1 - 3 mm | 0.03 mm reduction | 0.34 mm loss of attachment |
| 4 - 6 mm | 1.29 mm reduction | 0.55 mm gain in attachment |
| ≥ 7 mm | 2.16 mm reduction | 1.19 mm gain in attachment |
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
Key Principle: Deeper pockets show greater probing depth reductions but shallower pockets are susceptible to attachment loss following both hygiene and instrumentation phases.
"Decreased bleeding on probing that may approach 45% in areas with initial probing depths of 4.0 to 6.5 mm is evidence that inflammation is reduced."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
3.5 The Badersten Studies (Classic Evidence Base)
"In the 1980s, Anita Badersten and her colleagues, at Loma Linda University, reported a series of clinical trials that studied the healing events and clinical outcomes following non-surgical treatment in patients with moderate and advanced chronic periodontitis."
- These studies provided the first systematic, longitudinal evidence for clinical outcomes of non-surgical therapy.
- Only incisors, canines and premolars were included.
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman, Preshaw, Robertson - Quintessence 2004)
3.6 The Cercek Study (1983) - Hygiene Phase vs. Instrumentation Phase
(Loma Linda University study - Cercek et al., 1983)
Hygiene Phase effects:
- Significant reductions in plaque score within one month of treatment
- Initial plaque scores of 60% at shallow pockets were reduced to 5%
- Deeper pockets with plaque scores of around 90% showed reductions of only 10-15%
- Reduction of Bleeding on Probing (BoP) from 70% to 40% within three months
- Average reduction of probing depth of approximately 0.5 mm
- Some loss of clinical attachment
Instrumentation Phase (additional) effects:
- Continued reductions in probing depths of up to 1 mm
- Initially deeper pockets showed greater reductions than shallower pockets
- Improved attachment levels for initially deep pockets
- Shallower pockets (<3 mm prior to treatment) susceptible to loss of attachment
"These data show clearly that clinical improvement does occur following the hygiene phase of treatment, but the changes are likely to be limited, in particular in pockets of 4 mm or greater. If the clinical changes are to be maximised then root surface instrumentation is essential."
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman, Preshaw, Robertson - Quintessence 2004)
3.7 Healing Following Non-Surgical Therapy
"Following removal of the aetiological dental plaque, there has been resolution of gingival inflammation (and gingival shrinkage), and hemi-desmosomal attachment of epithelial cells to the biologically compatible root surface. This healing process may take up to nine months to complete."
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Quintessence 2004)
"Healing after scaling and root planing results in the formation of a long junctional epithelium that is consistent with periodontal health in the presence of good oral self-care."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
FLOWCHART: HEALING AFTER NON-SURGICAL THERAPY
(Heasman et al., Quintessence 2004 - Fig 1-6)
Removal of aetiological dental plaque
|
v
Resolution of gingival inflammation
|
v
Gingival shrinkage (recession)
|
v
Hemi-desmosomal attachment of epithelial
cells to biologically compatible root surface
|
v
Formation of LONG JUNCTIONAL EPITHELIUM
(process takes up to 9 months to complete)
3.8 The Concept of Full-Mouth Disinfection (FMD)
"Recent information suggests that multiple episodes of full-mouth debridement or disinfection performed within a close time period (24 hours) may reduce potential reservoirs of cross-infection and may result in a favorable clinical response."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
3.9 Challenges and Limitations of Non-Surgical Therapy
"Scaling and root planing are demanding clinical procedures that require time and skill. Complete removal of plaque and calculus from root surfaces, especially within deep pockets, is unrealistic and rarely attained. In pockets with initial probing depth of 5 mm or greater, clinicians have been shown to inadequately debride roots 65% of the time."
"Studies evaluating residual calculus after periodontal instrumentation with or without surgical access exhibit 11% to 85% residual calculus."
Areas most prone to residual deposits:
-
Furcations
-
Line angles
-
Cementoenamel junction
-
Root concavities
-
Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
"Although the production of a smooth, glassy root surface is often used as an end-point during periodontal instrumentation, its absolute necessity for successful therapy is unclear. Complete removal of cementum in an attempt to eliminate endotoxin adherent to the root surface is unnecessary and may result in hypersensitivity."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
3.10 Root Surface Instrumentation (RSI) - Terminology Note
Recent Terminology Change: The term "root surface instrumentation (RSI)" is now preferred over traditional "root planing" in contemporary British/European periodontology literature, as it does not imply complete removal of cementum.
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman, Preshaw, Robertson)
3.11 Tooth Anatomy and Access Limitations in Non-Surgical Therapy
"Tooth anatomy also plays a major role in the completeness of subgingival professional hygiene therapy. Furcation attachment loss and root concavities including developmental grooves or enamel projections and pearls substantially reduce the operator's ability to thoroughly clean the teeth and create smooth root surfaces."
-
A narrow furcation involvement creates difficulty in root planing especially with hand curettes
-
Root concavities and the interproximal concavity coronal to a furcation inhibit plaque removal
-
Palatal grooves enhance plaque accumulation, provide a surface for calculus collection
-
Enamel projections allow for pocketing into the furcation
-
Non-Surgical Control of Periodontal Diseases (Levi, Rudy, Jeong, Coleman - Springer 2016)
3.12 Biotype and Non-Surgical Therapy
"Care must be taken by the clinician to not disturb the connective tissue attachment, which means utilizing sharp, thin instruments and a solid dry finger rest to provide the greatest control of the blade of the curette possible when root planing." (in thin biotype patients)
- Non-Surgical Control of Periodontal Diseases (Levi et al.)
"Scaling and root planing with a thin biotype must be very precise to prevent creating further recession."
- Non-Surgical Control of Periodontal Diseases
3.13 Pocket Depth and Plaque Accessibility
"In general, it is accepted that 3 mm or less gingival crevices are considered normal and cleansable; however, a 3 mm facial or lingual pocket..."
"The deeper the probing depth, the less likely that a patient will be able to remove the biofilm and the more likely that they will exhibit gingival inflammation. Gingival hyperplasia or incomplete passive eruption, without attachment loss, can create pockets that are inaccessible for mechanical plaque removal by the patient."
- Non-Surgical Control of Periodontal Diseases (Levi et al.)
3.14 Instruments in Non-Surgical Therapy
Comparison Table: Hand Instruments vs. Ultrasonic Instruments
| Parameter | Hand Instruments (Gracey Curettes) | Ultrasonic/Sonic Instruments |
|---|
| Tissue trauma | Tissue trauma and slow healing rate | Limited tissue trauma and faster healing rate |
| Cementum removal | Cementum removal | Limited cementum removal |
| Sharpening | Frequent sharpening needed | No sharpening needed |
| Tactile sense | Good tactile feedback | Loss of tactile sense |
| Efficacy | No significant difference | No significant difference |
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al.)
"Recent research has shown that there appears to be no difference in the efficacy of debridement using ultrasonic/sonic and hand instruments."
"With the loss of tactile sense when using an ultrasonic scaler, clinicians may prefer to commence debridement with an ultrasonic scaler and complete the debridement with hand instruments."
"Antiseptic irrigants have been shown to offer no advantages over water in improving clinical outcomes when powered instruments are used."
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al.)
3.15 Evaluation of Results of Non-Surgical Therapy
"The end-point of nonsurgical therapy is a return to periodontal health. Healing after periodontal debridement usually is assessed during a reevaluation appointment scheduled 4 to 6 weeks after treatment."
Benefits expected after periodontal debridement:
-
Reduction of clinical inflammation (erythema, edema, and bleeding on probing)
-
Microbial shifts to a less pathogenic bacterial flora
-
Reduction of probing depth
-
Gain of clinical attachment
-
Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
SECTION 4: SURGICAL THERAPY - DETAILED ANALYSIS
4.1 Indications of Periodontal Surgery
- Areas with irregular bony contours, deep craters and others requiring a surgical approach.
- Deep pockets where complete removal of root irritants is not possible, especially in inaccessible areas like molars and premolar areas.
- In cases of grade II and III furcation involvement, where apart from removing local irritants, necessary root resection or hemisection can be considered.
- Infrabony pockets in nonaccessible areas which are nonresponsive toward nonsurgical methods.
- Persistent inflammation in areas with moderate and deep pockets.
- Correction of mucogingival problems.
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
During maintenance, surgical therapy is indicated when:
-
The cause of breakdown is not poor patient plaque control (if poor plaque control, surgical therapy should be delayed until nonsurgical therapy is reaccomplished)
-
Retreatment of a single failing site includes scaling and root planing ± local drug delivery; if no response by next maintenance appointment, localized surgical therapy may be necessary
-
Health of multiple adjacent sites is not improving
-
Generalized loss of attachment is detected
-
Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
4.2 Contraindications of Periodontal Surgery
"Contraindications of periodontal surgery may be oral or systemic:"
- In patients of advanced age where teeth may last for life without resorting to radical treatment (procedures indicated in a person of 60 years of age may not be justified in someone of 70 years of age).
- For patients with systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, malignancy, liver diseases, blood disorders and uncontrolled diabetes, consultation with patient's physician is essential.
- Where thorough subgingival scaling and good home care will resolve or control the lesion.
- Where patient motivation is inadequate.
- In the presence of infection.
- Where the prognosis is so poor that tooth loss is inevitable.
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
4.3 Objectives of Periodontal Surgery
- To gain access to the root surface and alveolar bone, which in turn enhances the visibility, increases the efficacy of scaling and root planing procedures.
- Modification of osseous defects:
- Re-establishment of physiologic architecture of hard tissues through the resection or regeneration
- Augmentation of the ridge defects
- Repair and regeneration of the periodontium.
- Pocket reduction:
- To improve patient maintenance
- To arrest the progression of disease thereby achieving long-term stability
- Provide acceptable soft tissue contours:
- To enhance plaque control and maintenance
- Improve the esthetics
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
4.4 Types of Surgical Therapy
| Category | Procedure |
|---|
| Pocket elimination | Gingivectomy |
| Flap surgery | Modified Widman Flap (MWF), Undisplaced flap, Apically displaced flap |
| Osseous surgery | Resective (ostectomy/osteoplasty), Regenerative |
| Mucogingival surgery | Free gingival graft, Connective tissue graft, Coronally advanced flap |
| Regenerative | Bone grafts, Guided tissue regeneration (GTR), Enamel matrix derivatives |
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
4.5 Surgical Therapy in Aggressive Periodontitis
"Treatment options for teeth with deep periodontal pockets and bone loss may be nonsurgical or surgical. Surgery may be purely resective, regenerative, or a combination of these approaches."
"Resective periodontal surgery can be effective to reduce or eliminate pocket depth in patients with aggressive periodontitis. However, it may be difficult to accomplish if adjacent teeth are unaffected, as often seen in cases of localized aggressive periodontitis."
"It is important to realize the limitations of surgical therapy and to appreciate the possible risk that surgical therapy may further compromise teeth that are mobile because of extensive loss of periodontal support. For example, in a patient with severe horizontal bone loss, surgical resective therapy may result in increased tooth mobility that is difficult to manage, and a nonsurgical approach may be indicated."
"Therefore, careful evaluation of the risks versus the benefits of surgery must be considered on a case-by-case basis."
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
4.6 Prerequisite for Surgery
"Prior to any surgical procedure, every patient must undergo the initial phase of therapy including scaling and root planing and reevaluation phase."
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
"It is better to have a plaque-free score before the surgical phase of treatment."
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
SECTION 5: COMPARISON - NON-SURGICAL vs. SURGICAL THERAPY
5.1 Primary Comparison Table
| Parameter | Non-Surgical Therapy | Surgical Therapy |
|---|
| Phase | Phase I (Cause-related) | Phase II |
| Goal | Eliminate etiologic factors; return to health | Gain access; correct residual defects; regeneration |
| Healing type | Long junctional epithelium | New attachment / regeneration (with grafts/GTR) |
| Access | Blind/closed approach | Direct vision (open approach) |
| Pocket depth reduction | Variable; deeper pockets respond better | More predictable pocket elimination |
| Calculus removal | 11-85% residual calculus in deep pockets | Better access; superior calculus removal |
| Attachment gain | Yes (see table, Section 3.4) | Yes; regeneration possible |
| Regeneration | Not possible | Possible with grafts/GTR |
| Morbidity | Low | Higher (pain, swelling, recession) |
| Patient acceptability | High | Lower |
| Systemic contraindications | Fewer | More absolute contraindications |
| Patient compliance prerequisite | Essential | Essential; must precede surgery |
| Effect of poor plaque control | Limited benefit | Surgery must be delayed |
| Furcation Class II/III | Limited access | Root resection/hemisection possible |
| Sequence | Always performed FIRST | Only after Phase I and reevaluation |
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition; Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants; Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics (Shantipriya Reddy)
5.2 Clinical Trial Evidence Comparing Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Therapy
"Several studies have compared the effectiveness of different treatment modalities used in the management of patients with periodontitis. Although many studies report no significant differences in clinical results between nonsurgical and surgical therapy, care must be taken in the evaluation of these studies. Differences in research design, including method of instrumentation (time spent and skill of the clinician) and evaluation of data (lack of sufficient statistical power in the analysis of deep pockets), complicate clinical application."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
"Access required for regenerative periodontal therapy is achieved only with the use of a surgical approach. Nonetheless, nonsurgical therapy remains a definitive therapeutic approach to the management of patients with mild to moderate chronic periodontitis and as an initial phase of treatment for patients expected to require surgical intervention."
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
Classic Long-Term Study: Lindhe J, Westfelt E, Nyman S et al: "Long-term effect of surgical/nonsurgical treatment of periodontal disease" J Clin Periodontol 11:448-458, 1984.
(Referenced in both Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition)
5.3 Comparison of Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Outcomes by Initial Pocket Depth
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK (based on data from uploaded references):
SHALLOW POCKETS (1-3 mm):
Non-Surgical: Mean probing depth reduction = 0.03 mm
Mean attachment LOSS = 0.34 mm
(susceptible to attachment loss)
Surgical: Risk of additional recession/attachment loss
Non-surgical preferred
MODERATE POCKETS (4-6 mm):
Non-Surgical: Mean PD reduction = 1.29 mm
Mean attachment GAIN = 0.55 mm
(good response)
Surgical: Good response; may offer comparable results
Clinical studies show no significant differences
DEEP POCKETS (≥7 mm):
Non-Surgical: Mean PD reduction = 2.16 mm
Mean attachment GAIN = 1.19 mm
BUT residual calculus in 65% of cases ≥5 mm
Surgical: Better access; better calculus removal
Regeneration possible (grafts, GTR)
Superior for infrabony, furcation defects
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
5.4 Different Viewpoints from Different References - Comparative Table
| Issue | Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants | Carranza's 10th Edition | Successful Periodontal Therapy (Heasman et al., Quintessence) | Essentials (Shantipriya Reddy) |
|---|
| NST vs. surgery: clinical outcomes | "Many studies report no significant differences in clinical results between nonsurgical and surgical therapy" | "No differences in response to nonsurgical or surgical treatment have been shown for periodontitis" (in context of aging) | NST is sufficient for motivated/compliant patient irrespective of severity | NST is initial therapy; surgery for non-responders |
| Regeneration | "Access required for regenerative therapy is achieved only with surgical approach" | Regeneration established in chronic disease; less evidence for aggressive | Surgery is required for regeneration | Flap surgery, bone grafts, barrier membranes listed under surgical therapy |
| Residual calculus | "11% to 85% residual calculus" after instrumentation ± surgery | Not quantified in same manner | Emphasizes importance of debridement skill | Not quantified |
| Healing | Long junctional epithelium after SRP | Long JE after SRP; new attachment with surgery | Up to 9 months for full healing after NST | Mentions long JE after scaling and curettage |
| Furcations | Listed as a challenge and limitation of NST | Surgery preferred for grade II/III furcation | RSI limited in furcation areas | Grade II/III furcation: surgical approach with possible root resection/hemisection |
SECTION 6: EFFECT OF SMOKING ON NON-SURGICAL vs. SURGICAL THERAPY
| Therapy | Effect of Smoking |
|---|
| Nonsurgical | Decreased clinical response to scaling and root planing; Decreased reduction in pocket depth |
| Surgical | Increased need for antibiotics in smokers to control the negative effect of periodontal infection on surgical outcome; Increased tooth loss in smokers after surgical therapy |
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy) - Table 14.4
"It can be concluded that smokers respond less well to nonsurgical therapy than nonsmokers."
"The less favorable response of the periodontal tissues to nonsurgical therapy that is observed in smokers..."
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
SECTION 7: ROLE OF ANTIBIOTICS AS ADJUNCT IN NON-SURGICAL THERAPY
7.1 Systemic Antibiotics
"Systemic administration of antibiotics may reduce or eliminate bacteria that cannot be removed by scaling or root planing, e.g. bacteria in the tissues/root surfaces."
Uses:
-
Decrease in plaque and gingivitis
-
Retards bone loss
-
"Use of antibiotics in conjunction with nonsurgical therapy reduces/eliminates the need for periodontal surgery."
-
Useful in cases of aggressive periodontal diseases that may be resistant to traditional nonsurgical or surgical therapies, e.g. localized juvenile periodontitis, rapidly progressive periodontitis
-
Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
"In general, antibiotics are rarely indicated for the management of periodontal diseases, and they are certainly not indicated in cases of chronic periodontitis or gingivitis. The strongest evidence to support the use of systemic antibiotics in periodontal conditions comes from studies of localised aggressive periodontitis."
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al.)
7.2 Possible Indications for Adjunctive Antibiotic Use in Periodontics (Box 6-2)
-
Aggressive forms of periodontitis (typically characterised by multiple suppurating pockets) to eliminate reservoirs of bacteria in the tissues.
-
Necrotising periodontal conditions.
-
Periodontal abscess - though primary goal is drainage of pus, which can normally be achieved by RSI alone.
-
Spreading, severe infection with associated symptoms such as pyrexia, gross diffuse swelling, limited mouth opening, difficulty swallowing.
-
Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al., Quintessence 2004)
"The plaque biofilm must be mechanically disrupted, as without this, antimicrobials have limited efficacy."
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al.)
7.3 Chlorhexidine in Non-Surgical Therapy
"At low concentrations, chlorhexidine is bacteriostatic, but at high concentrations, it is bactericidal."
"An important property of chlorhexidine is its substantivity, that is, the retention in the mouth and subsequent release from oral structures. After a one-minute oral rinse of 10 ml of chlorhexidine 0.2%, approximately 30% of the drug is retained, and within 15 seconds of rinsing, half will have bonded to receptor molecules."
Uses after periodontal surgery:
- "After periodontal surgery in the reduction of postoperative infection, pain and inflammation"
- In management of periodontal problems as part of a palliative care programme
- To help prevent drug-induced gingival overgrowth
- For NUG/NUP management
"Rinsing with chlorhexidine reduces the number of bacteria in saliva by between 50% and 90%. A maximum reduction of 95% occurs around five days, after which the numbers increase gradually to maintain an overall reduction of 70-80% at 40 days."
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al., Quintessence 2004)
SECTION 8: HOST MODULATORY THERAPY (HMT) AS AN ADJUNCT
"Host modulatory therapy (HMT) is a relatively new concept in the management of periodontitis, and has been driven by improved understanding of periodontal pathogenesis and awareness of the..."
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al.)
Subantimicrobial Dose Doxycycline (SDD):
- Periostat® 20 mg BID - most extensively studied
- "These doses reportedly do not exhibit antimicrobial effects, but can effectively lower MMP levels."
- "This reduced dose has been referred to as subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD)."
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
SECTION 9: MAINTENANCE THERAPY (PHASE IV) - RELATIONSHIP TO SURGICAL/NON-SURGICAL OUTCOME
"The goals of periodontal and maintenance therapies are identical: a healthy, comfortable, esthetic, and functional dentition with stable probing depths."
Retreatment decision-making (flowchart during maintenance):
BREAKDOWN DETECTED DURING MAINTENANCE
|
v
Is it due to poor plaque control?
/ \
YES NO
| |
v v
Delay surgical Single site failing?
therapy; redo / \
Phase I YES NO
| |
v v
Scale ± local Multiple adjacent
drug delivery sites not improving?
| |
v v
No response? Surgical therapy
| indicated
v
Localized surgical
therapy may be
necessary
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants
SECTION 10: SPECIAL CLINICAL SCENARIOS
10.1 Aggressive Periodontitis
"Patients may be better managed by nonsurgical means including initial therapy" (in some cases)
"Increasing severity of periodontitis is..." associated with need for surgical intervention
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
Non-surgical therapy for aggressive periodontitis should include adjunctive systemic antibiotics (see Section 7).
10.2 Systemic Diseases and Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Choice
| Condition | Preferred Approach | Notes |
|---|
| Uncontrolled Diabetes | Non-surgical preferred | Surgery contraindicated until controlled |
| Cardiovascular disease | Physician consultation required for surgery | |
| Malignancy | Non-surgical preferred | Surgery may be limited |
| Blood disorders | Physician consultation for surgery | Delayed postsurgical healing |
| Pregnancy | Non-surgical only (second trimester safe) | Surgical procedures postponed until postpartum |
| Advanced age | Non-surgical first choice | "For older adults, a nonsurgical approach is often the first treatment choice" |
| Post-radiation therapy | "Irradiation may be limited to nonsurgical forms of therapy. Flap surgery or extraction of teeth after..." radiation carries risk | Nonsurgical preferred |
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition; Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics (Shantipriya Reddy)
"For older adults, a nonsurgical approach is often the first treatment choice. Depending on the nature..."
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
"Conservative, nonsurgical periodontal therapy, whenever possible." (in medically compromised patients)
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition
10.3 Gingival Enlargement - Drug-Induced
"Oral hygiene reinforcement, chlorhexidine gluconate rinses, scaling and root planing. Possible drug substitution. When it is attempted, it is necessary to allow at least a period of 6-12 months between the discontinuation of the offending drug and the possible resolution of gingival enlargement. Professional recalls."
"Second step: If enlargement persists even after following the above mentioned approaches, surgical therapy is indicated. There are two surgical options available based on the features it presents:"
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
10.4 Periodontal Abscess
Non-surgical therapy including scaling, root planing and antimicrobial therapy; drainage through pocket retraction or incision.
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition (Shantipriya Reddy)
10.5 NUG / NUP
- NUG: Full-mouth supragingival ultrasonic instrumentation + chlorhexidine mouthrinse + metronidazole 400 mg TDS for 7 days. Following resolution, RSI + OHI.
- NUP: Referral to specialist; local measures + systemic antibiotics + removal of necrotic bone + possibly periodontal surgery to eliminate bony sequestrae.
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach (Heasman et al., Quintessence 2004)
SECTION 11: RECENT TERMINOLOGY CHANGES
| Old Terminology | Current/Preferred Terminology | Reference |
|---|
| Root planing | Root Surface Instrumentation (RSI) | Heasman, Preshaw, Robertson (Quintessence 2004) |
| Adult periodontitis / Slowly progressive periodontitis | Chronic periodontitis (2017 Classification: Periodontitis Stage I-IV, Grade A-C) | Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics (Shantipriya Reddy) |
| Localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) / Rapidly progressive periodontitis | Aggressive periodontitis / Periodontitis Grade C (2017) | Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics |
| Debridement | Subgingival debridement / Periodontal debridement | Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants |
| Gingival curettage | "Current concept" - not routinely recommended | Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics |
| Compliance | Concordance (patient-centered model) | Non-Surgical Control of Periodontal Diseases (Levi et al. - Chapter 2 title: "Empowering Your Patients: From Compliance to Concordance") |
| Scaling and root planing | Subgingival debridement (when cementum removal is not intended) | Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants |
SECTION 12: EXAMINER'S SUMMARY - KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
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Non-surgical therapy (Phase I) ALWAYS precedes surgical therapy (Phase II) and is a prerequisite for surgery.
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The end-point of non-surgical therapy is return to periodontal health, assessed at 4-6 weeks post-treatment reevaluation.
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Healing after SRP = Long Junctional Epithelium; healing after surgery with grafts/GTR = new attachment/regeneration.
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Deep pockets respond better to probing depth reduction following SRP than shallow pockets, but residual calculus in pockets ≥5 mm persists in 65% of cases.
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"Many studies report no significant differences in clinical results between nonsurgical and surgical therapy" - this is a classically examinable statement (Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants).
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"Access required for regenerative periodontal therapy is achieved only with the use of a surgical approach" - key examiner point.
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Antibiotics as adjunct to NST reduces/eliminates need for surgery in some cases (Essentials, Shantipriya Reddy).
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Smokers respond less well to both non-surgical and surgical therapy compared to non-smokers.
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Surgical therapy contraindicated: poor patient motivation, inadequate plaque control, active infection, poor prognosis, certain systemic diseases.
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Full-mouth disinfection within 24 hours may reduce cross-infection reservoirs - an important recent concept in non-surgical therapy.
SOURCES CITED IN THESE NOTES:
- Non-Surgical Control of Periodontal Diseases: A Comprehensive Handbook - Levi, Rudy, Jeong, Coleman (Springer 2016)
- Successful Periodontal Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach - Heasman, Preshaw, Robertson (Quintessence Publishing, 2004)
- Essentials of Clinical Periodontology and Periodontics, 5th Edition - Shantipriya Reddy (Jaypee Brothers, 2018)
- Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition - Newman, Takei, Klokkevold, Carranza
- Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology and Implantology, 14th Edition
- Periodontics: Medicine, Surgery and Implants - Rose, Mealey, Genco, Cohen
- Clinical Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, 6th Edition - Lang and Lindhe (Wiley-Blackwell, 2015)
These notes are compiled exclusively from the uploaded reference documents. Every point is traceable to the source texts as indicated. No outside knowledge or AI-generated content has been introduced.