[Means for motivation]

The possibilities of and devices for motivating good oral hygiene in patients with periodontal disease were discussed briefly. Recognition of the first signs of periodontal disease appears to be particularly important. Even if treatment for periodontal disease is successful, the chance of it developing again is high if the patient is not motivated to maintain good oral hygiene. According to the author, only a small portion of the motivation provided by the dentist can be replaced by audiovisual aids.