AAP treatment guidelines stress that periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing from deep periodontal pockets, followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials and host modulation. The field of periodontology is continually changing. Dentists must stay abreast of the latest researches in periodontal treatments in order to offer the most comprehensive therapy for patients. With the recent studies indicating a possible...

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has recently been investigated as a potential alternative restorative material to the presently used materials in endodontics. Several studies have shown that MTA prevents microleakage, is biocompatible, and promotes regeneration of the original tissues when it is placed in contact with dental pulp and peri radicular tissues. MTA materials appear not only to demonstrate acceptable biocompatible behavior but also exhibits acceptable in vivo biologic performance when used for root-end fillings, perforation repairs, pulp-capping and pulpotomy, and apexification...

Dentistry has come a long way since 1900 when Willoughby Miller & William Hunter proclaimed that oral disease cause most systemic disease. A century later researchers are developing a scientifically based understanding of how in fact periodontitis may be a risk for certain systemic diseases. As these more recent observations are confirmed & clarified, dentistry will have a new responsibility in caring for patients who may develop or who have periodontitis. It is no longer just teeth that are at risk.