High need for therapy is turning periodontology into the centre of attention at the International Dental Show 2017

There are three reasons why periodontology will continue to gain significance in the future: Teeth can remain preserved up to an increasingly older age, whereby they then frequently require periodontal treatment. If an implant is inserted after the tooth has been extract, at least a professional peri-implantitis prophylaxis is needed, which follows similar protocols as the periodontal prophylaxis. Finally, one should take into consideration the fact that the course of periodontal diseases is influenced to a considerable extent by genetics; even in the case of conscientious domestic oral hygiene, support from the dental team may thus be essential. All of this speaks in favour of regularly informing oneself extensively about the state of technology in the field of periodontology - ideally at the International Dental Show (IDS), 21 to 25 March 2017 in Cologne.

Interesting innovations with direct benefit for the planning and execution of a periodontal therapy pertain to a host of different research areas, in which the dental industry is engaged. Diagnostic methods, instruments for the non-surgical therapy and for surgery, chemical and mechanical aids for prophylaxis or biological growth factors for the regeneration of tissue as well as laser applications - innovations for use in the practice are available in all areas of periodontology.

Diagnosis

The individual risk of a patient contracting a periodontal disease and the speed at which it progresses can be assessed more and more accurately today using different methods. The genetic predisposition is a starting point. Here, polymorphisms evidently play a significant role in the genes of the interleukin 1 gene family (IL-1). Molecular genetic tests enable the dentist to assess the genetically-based predisposition to inflammation and on taking further risk factors into consideration (i.e. smoking) to determine the overall risk for the individual patient.

Beyond this, molecular biological analysis kits enable the more accurate assessment of an existing inflammatory process. Hereby the composition of the subgingival flora as well as the concentration and type of marker germs is examined. The results provide valuable tips for the dental measures and particularly answer the question as to whether scaling or root planing suffices as a means of professional prophylaxis or whether the use of antibiotic adjuvants is necessary. Depending on the severity of the disease and the prognosis, soft tissue surgery may also be necessary.

Periodontal therapy

A wide range of offers for the professional prophylaxis and therapy of periodontal diseases will be on display for examination and (quite literally) tangible understanding: Instruments for the classic probing, for the hand curettage, as well as sonic or ultrasonic, air polishing devices and air scalers. Furthermore, lasers are also gaining significance for example due to the expansion of the spectrum around blue light (445 nanometres). A main application concerns the reduction of germs in the scope of periodontal treatments, whereby the possibility of a low-pain, tissue-conserving procedure that involves little blood loss could prove to be the main advantages.

If the aspired maximum pocket depth (as a rule 6 millimetres) cannot be maintained long-term, surgery may help. Whereby today the trend is moving towards minimally invasive methods. In this connection, IDS is presenting among others laser applications for cutting or removing oral soft tissue, state-of-the-art micro-surgical sewing materials and effective visual aids (i.e. magnifying glasses and operation microscopes).

Beyond this, a regenerative therapy can even reproduce lost periodontal structures. At IDS, the visitor can gain an overview of enamel matrix proteins (EMPs), absorbable membranes and bone replacement material. The "reward" can be the reduction of the probing depths and a clinical attachment gain.

More than 30 million German citizens require treatment for periodontal diseases. Around 10 million of whom can even be categorised as being serious cases and bearing the demographic change in mind the significance of periodontitis will no doubt further increase. Dr. Markus Heibach, Executive Director of the Association of German Dental Manufacturers e.V. (VDD), stressed: "At the International Dental Show in Cologne one can experience close up how the prevention and therapy options have further developed. With tangible innovations and direct contact to the respective manufacturers, IDS offers all visitors real added value."

The IDS (International Dental Show) takes place in Cologne every two years and is organised by the GFDI Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Dental-Industrie mbH, the commercial enterprise of the Association of German Dental Manufacturers (VDDI). It is staged by the Koelnmesse GmbH, Cologne.