Outcome studies of periodontal treatment modalities

During the past three decades a significant body of information has been produced in several clinical research centers evaluating the therapeutic responses of the periodontium to different treatment modalities. These studies provide ample evidence that periodontal therapy is effective in controlling periodontal disease, and that dentitions can be preserved for extended periods of time following treatments and proper maintenance. In general, there are no striking differences between the periodontal treatments evaluated. Therefore, the current trend is from a resective to a more conservative, anti-infective therapeutic approach and evaluation of the patient.