[Possibilities and limits in the early diagnosis of peridontal insufficiency]

Up to now, the early detection and the discriminating evaluation of periodontal insufficiency are not feasible due to the variety of conditions provoking a pathological response of the tissues. In general, the defence may be regarded as sufficient. Exceptions to this rule are periodontal changes existent already in adolescence and therapy-resistant gingivitides in which endogenous causal factors obviously predominate. A disproportion of tooth mobility to bone reduction and a tendency to abscess-formation, tooth migrations and recurrences after periodontal therapy are indicative of insufficiency. The development of a progressive course is to be compared with the breakdown of the barrier of defence. The reduction or elimination of provoking and conditioning factors prior to prosthetic therapy is considered to be the way to maintain the "stability" of the periodontal tissues.