Awareness of periodontal disease--the role of industry

Recently periodontal treatments have been performed intensively in daily clinical work and the definitive approach to periodontal therapy has been established in various types of periodontal diseases. It is no exaggeration to say that this is impossible without the co-operation of the dental industry. Furthermore, industry has also contributed greatly to the improvement of the 'quality of life', concerning masticatory function in the elderly. Both the progression of dental devices and the development of diagnostic methods have been considered to be the primary prerequisite for success in treatment and in the prevention of recurrence of the periodontal diseases. It is necessary that dental devices and medications for treatment should be developed corresponding to the advanced scientific evaluation of periodontal disease. This paper reviews our present knowledge about the role or contribution of industry to periodontology in terms of periodontal health care products, diagnostic kits, and therapeutic drugs.