On 11 – 13 April 2014, the International Academy of Periodontology (IAP) held a unique initiative by hosting a conclave meeting of leading periodontists from developing countries along with established leading luminaries as the invited faculty. The purpose of the conclave was to develop and report their conclusive findings on five different aspects of periodontal diseases and therapies. The theme for the conclave meeting was “Global strategies to address periodontal health and diseases,...

The importance of plaque control measures to contribute to the oral health status of an individual has been emphasized in all workshops on periodontology (Claydon, 2008). Oral cleanliness is important for the preservation of oral health as it removes microbial plaque, thereby preventing its accumulation on teeth and gingivae (Choo et al., 2001). Self-care includes all self-supporting activities that an individual performs to prevent and treat personal ill health. Self-care or home-use...

The scholarly review by Slot and Van der Weijden (Journal of the International Academy of Periodontology 2015; 17/1 Supplement) of mechanical oral hygiene practices is well written and well organized. This is a difficult topic to address because of the lack of systematic reviews that have been performed in developing countries. Nonetheless, there are two major areas of interest that should be addressed at the conclave: In consideration of the fact that the goal of removal of biofilm is the...

Maintenance of effective plaque control is the cornerstone of any attempt to prevent and control periodontal disease. Complete natural cleaning of the dentition is virtually non-existent. To be controlled, plaque must be removed frequently by active self-care methods. Hence, the dental community continues to encourage proper oral hygiene and more effective use of mechanical cleaning. This group addressed the aspect of oral hygiene practices carried out at home by patients as well as the general...

The main goals of periodontal therapy are to achieve reductions in probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing and suppuration, to maintain or gain clinical attachment (CA) and to prevent future attachment loss (i.e., maintenance of the long-term stability of the periodontal tissues). These clinical improvements are accompanied by an ecological shift in the subgingival microbial composition, from a microbial profile related to disease to a profile compatible with health (Socransky and Haffajee,...

The Initiator Paper for this discussion group by Feres et al. (2015), is a well balanced and objective review of most of the non-surgical treatment modalities suggested in the recent decade either as adjunct or supplemental measures to mechanical debridement. 

Periodontal diseases are complex opportunistic infections modified by the host inflammatory response. Therefore, the current recommended treatment of periodontitis is primarily anti-infective in nature. Antiinfective approaches rely on adequate patient removal of plaque through good oral hygiene practices and mechanical debridement by an oral health professional. Scaling and root planing (SRP) is accepted to be the basis for all periodontal therapy, and any additional therapies should be...

Periodontal disease is an all-encompassing term relating to inflammatory disorders of the periodontium, which range from the relatively benign form known as gingivitis to the more aggressive forms of early onset periodontitis and rapidly progressive periodontitis. All forms of inflammatory periodontal diseases are associated with bacterial deposits on the root surfaces (Offenbacher et al., 1996; Page et al., 1997). One of the most significant outcomes of periodontal inflammation is...

In the comprehensive and elegantly written review by Bartold et al. in Periodontology 2000, the authors have reviewed all different aspects of periodontal regeneration. At first, the principles of periodontal regeneration are defined as:

Osseointegration is defined as “a direct, structural and functional connection between ordered, living bone and the surface of a load-carrying implant” (Listgarten et al., 1991). Direct bone-to-implant contact was first described by Brånemark et al. (1969) and histologically demonstrated by Schroeder et al. (1978) as “functional ankylosis.” Albrektsson et al. (1981) described successful clinical treatment outcomes of 2895 threaded titanium screw implants placed using a strict...

Osseointegration is defined as “a direct, structural and functional connection between ordered, living bone and the surface of a load-carrying implant” (Listgarten et al., 1991). Direct bone-to-implant contact was first described by Brånemark et al. (1969) and histologically demonstrated by Schroeder et al. (1978) as “functional ankylosis.” Albrektsson et al. (1981) described successful clinical treatment outcomes of 2895 threaded titanium screw implants placed using a strict surgical...

Periodontology is one of the oldest dental specialties in the world that deals with the tooth-supporting soft tissues and alveolar bone in both healthy and diseased conditions. Periodontal disease usually consists of gingivitis and periodontitis (Armitage, 1999). It is arguably the most common disease in humans (Guinness World Records, 2001), partly due to the unique characteristics of the dento-gingival structure and the etiopathogenic nature of the disease (Socransky and Haffajee, 1997; Jin,...

In the Initiator Paper for Workshop E on periodontal education, Professor L. J. Jin clearly stated that common pitfalls and drawbacks in periodontal practice are the result of the fact that in many emerging populations, periodontal components of dental curricula remain highly inadequate and not updated due to limitations in qualified teaching staff and educational resources (Jin 2015). I can add a more significant reason that addresses the lack of a standardized periodontal education,...