Periodontal Assessment and Treatment Flashcards

The biologic width of the periodontium refers to the combined dimension of:

Answer: Junctional epithelium and connective tissue attachment above the alveolar crest (approximately 2.04 mm total)

Biologic width (Gargiulo et al. 1961) = junctional epithelium (~0.97 mm) + supracrestal connective tissue attachment (~1.07 mm) ≈ 2.04 mm; restorations must not violate this space.

A furcation defect classified as Glickman Class II on tooth #3 (maxillary first molar) means:

Answer: The furcation can be partially probed (bone loss into the furcation but does not extend through it)

Glickman Class II furcation involvement means the probe can enter the furcation but cannot pass through to the other side — partial horizontal bone loss into the furcation.

Subgingival irrigation as an adjunct to scaling and root planing delivers antimicrobial agents to:

Answer: The base of the periodontal pocket to disrupt residual biofilm and reduce microbial load

Subgingival irrigation delivers antimicrobial solutions (chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine) directly to the base of periodontal pockets to reduce the bacterial load that instruments cannot fully access.

Which instrument characteristic distinguishes a Gracey curette from a universal curette?

Answer: Gracey curettes are area-specific with one working cutting edge per blade, angled at 60–70° to the terminal shank; universal curettes have two cutting edges angled at 90°

Gracey curettes are area-specific, with one functional cutting edge per working end (the lower/outer edge), designed so the face is at 60–70° to the terminal shank for proper blade adaptation subgingivally.

The goal of supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) intervals every 3 months versus every 6 months is based on:

Answer: Bacterial recolonization studies showing subgingival pathogenic bacteria return to pre-treatment levels in 9–11 weeks without maintenance

Research shows that pathogenic subgingival bacteria recolonize to pre-treatment levels in 9–11 weeks after professional debridement; 3-month intervals disrupt biofilm before re-establishment of pathogenic complexity.

Localized aggressive periodontitis (now reclassified as Stage III/IV Grade C periodontitis in young patients) is classically characterized by:

Answer: Severe alveolar bone loss localized to first molars and incisors in adolescents with minimal plaque accumulation

Classic localized aggressive periodontitis is characterized by a 'first molar-incisor' pattern of severe alveolar bone loss in adolescents/young adults, often with disproportionately little plaque accumulation — associated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.