Advanced Diagnostic Aids in Periodontology

Diagnosis in Periodontics has responded to changes in technology as well as to new ways of understanding the pathophysiology of Periodontitis. Although periodontal disease is largely a host-innate response to bacterial infection diagnosis is currently limited to traditional assessment based on signs of previous periodontal destruction. This evaluation includes intra-oral observation of gingival inflammation periodontal probing depths loss of clinical attachment radiographic bone loss by conventional methods & signs & symptoms of active disease including ulceration & suppuration. These measures which were introduced more than 50 years ago continue today as the basis for periodontal diagnosis in clinical practice.During the early 1980’s longitudinal clinical studies demonstrated that long-held concepts concerning the natural history of periodontal disease required modification.