Examen clinique des parodontites

Periodontal diseases are inflammatory lesions resulting from a bacterial aggression in the dental-gingival area; they are modulated by the host's immunologic factors that determine disease progression. Clinical examination must seek for all bacterial factors, together with the general and environmental factors that are likely to influence the disease. The equipment required for this examination is simple but it must provide accurate and precise data for the semeiotic diagnosis; this diagnosis should be compared with current data using periodontal classifications, for therapeutic and prognostic considerations. Chronological analysis is performed afterwards, at the doctor's office, beginning by the reason for consulting; then the patient questioning which allows determining the disease risk factors and oral health status. The physical examination is performed on the dentist's chair, collecting all local environmental factors likely to induce or aggravate the periodontal disease; then an accurate periodontal status assessment is performed to determine the time of symptoms beginning and their progression rate; this assessment includes the evaluation of the superficial periodontium (inflammation, type of periodontium…) and that of the deep periodontium (probing, bleeding, furcations assessment).