[Assessment of the acceptance of modern periodontal treatment]

In a retrospective study we assessed the acceptance of necessary modern periodontal treatment by more than 2200 patients in the years 1981-1987. 50% of the patients withdrew from treatment in the presurgical phase and 42% in the postsurgical maintenance phase; particularly during the first year the drop out rate was high (64%). One of the reasons could be a certain lack of health awareness and fading willingness of the patients for permanent cooperation as known from longstanding chronic diseases in general medicine. Therefore it remains necessary to enhance periodontal health awareness and to promote information on the cause and treatment of periodontitis and the subsequent maintenance care.