Non-surgical periodontal therapy: essential and adjunctive methods

The presence of bacterial deposits on teeth has been observed since the birth of microbiology but it has taken over 300 years to understand which elements of the various hard and soft dental deposits must be removed in order to arrest the destructive processes caused by the periodontal diseases. This article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding non-surgical periodontal therapy, including adjuncts such as mouthrinses and antibacterials and considers when other treatment modalities would be beneficial for the patient.