The art and science of periodontal prognosis

In this paper, periodontal literature related to making a periodontal prognosis is reviewed. Factors that can influence both an overall and tooth-specific prognosis are enumerated. Factors influencing the overall periodontal prognosis include age, genetics, oral hygiene, systemic conditions, and tobacco use. Tooth-specific influences include the amount of attachment loss, crown:root ratio, position in the arch, and presence or absence of furcation invasions. These factors are then synthesized into a scheme for determining a periodontal prognosis.