Periodontology Flashcards

What is the recommended treatment for a lateral (periodontal) abscess in a patient with Stage III periodontitis?

Answer: Drainage via sulcus, debridement, and systemic antibiotics if spreading cellulitis

Acute periodontal abscess management involves establishing drainage through the sulcus, subgingival debridement, and systemic antibiotics only if there is spreading infection.

In the treatment of gingival recession, what does the Cairo RT1 classification indicate?

Answer: No interproximal attachment loss — best prognosis for root coverage

Cairo RT1 recession has no interproximal attachment or bone loss, corresponding to old Miller Class I/II, offering the best prognosis for complete root coverage.

What is the mechanism by which smoking impairs the periodontal immune response?

Answer: Impairs neutrophil chemotaxis and function, reduces vasodilation masking BOP

Smoking impairs neutrophil function and chemotaxis, reduces gingival vasodilation (masking bleeding on probing), and suppresses the immune response, worsening disease severity.

Which index is used in the UK to screen for periodontal disease in routine dental examinations?

Answer: Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE)

The Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) is the UK standard screening tool, using a WHO probe to measure pocket depths and calculus in six sextants.

What is the histological composition of a periodontal pocket wall?

Answer: Ulcerated junctional epithelium with dense inflammatory cell infiltrate

The pocket wall consists of ulcerated pocket epithelium with a dense chronic inflammatory infiltrate (predominantly plasma cells and lymphocytes) in the adjacent connective tissue.

At what stage of periodontal treatment should definitive restorative work ideally be completed?

Answer: After periodontal stability has been achieved and re-assessed

Definitive restorations should be deferred until periodontal stability is confirmed at reassessment, ensuring tissue levels and margins are stable before final impressions.