Interdisciplinary Periodontics

*Subash Chandra Raj, Shaheda Tabassum, Annuroopa Mahapatra and Kaushik Patnaik*

## **Abstract**

Evidence based periodontics has made us understand that most of the patients having various dental or medical treatment requirements require multidisciplinary approach rather than personalised periodontal approach. Periodontal disease may be evident in the periodontal tissue but its onset and progression could be affected by systemic condition also. The intercommunication and liaison between periodontics and endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, implant dentistry, Orthodontics, oral pathology, Aesthetic dentistry, oral & maxillofacial surgery, Paediatric dentistry, gerodontology, radiology, special needs dentistry and general medicine needs to be discussed. Increasing life expectancy, higher quality of Biomaterials used in dentistry and rapid evolution of clinical procedures has led to more demanding patient requests & more complicated treatment choices. It requires holistic management. In this chapter we have made a conscious effort to touch upon various fields of medical science and its relation to periodontics, by which we wish to create a healthy referral protocol, benefiting the general population.

**Keywords:** Interdisciplinary periodontics, Ortho- perio synergy, periodontal surgery

#### **1. Introduction**

The intercommunication and liaison between periodontal tissues/periodontal diseases and endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, implant dentistry,orthodontics, oral pathology, aesthetic dentistry, oral & maxillofacial surgery, paediatric dentistry, gerodontology, radiology, special needs dentistry and general medicine needs to be discussed [1]. Increasing life expectancy, higher quality of Biomaterials used in dentistry and rapid evolution of clinical procedures has led to more demanding patient requests & more complicated treatment choices. It requires holistic management, which frequently mandates clinicians to cooperate in a multidisciplinary approach, in order to fulfil therapeutic objectives and to provide successful treatment concerning functional rehabilitation and aesthetical enhancement [2]. So, clinicians should believe in 'merge to emerge' approach of interdisciplinary Periodontics.

Understanding these interrelationships can improve the clinicians' ability to establish the correct diagnosis, to evaluate the prognosis of affected tooth or teeth and to design and carry out an appropriate treatment according to biological and clinical evidence. Interdisciplinary dentistry can be described as the mutual permeation of various dental specialties accompanied by expansion of the scope of each. The term 'synergy' refers to two or more distinct influences or agents acting together to create an effect greater than that predicted by knowing only the separate effects of the individual agents [3]. This definition is applicable to the classic relationships between various specialities in the dentistry that should go hand in hand for the complete well being of the patient. Within modern dentistry, periodontics share an intimate and inseparable relationship with endodontics, orthodontics, Prosthetic dentistry as well as other specialities in multiple aspects including treatment plan, procedure execution, outcome,achievement and maintenance.

Interdisciplinary team work in periodontics is a complex process in which different specialities staff work together to share expertise, knowledge and skills to impact on patient care. Thus the interdisciplinary periodontics can be interpreted as the interaction and interrelationship between periodontist and other dental specialists with harmonious setting & skills sharing common periodontal health goals and practicing concerted physical and mental effort in determining, planning and evaluating patient care [4].

This definition of interdisciplinary periodontics may be more optimistic and aspirational than realistic as it makes several assumptions about the characteristics that a team will possess.

The ten themes identified as the characteristics of a good interdisciplinary team are:


All phases of clinical dentistry are intimately related to a common objective. The preservation and maintenance of the natural dentition in health is of prime importance in an integrated interdisciplinary approach to periodontal care. It is logical that periodontal treatment precedes final restorative procedure. Hence, for successful oral rehabilitation of the patient the interdisciplinary approach is required where ideas can be exchanged for the sake of sound oral health [3].

The aim of this chapter is to focus the importance of periodontal examination and periodontist in clinical dental practice and referral in general dental practice. It also describes the intercommunication and liaison between periodontal tissues/

*Interdisciplinary Periodontics DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99265*

**Figure 1.** *Schematic diagram for interdisciplinary team.*

periodontal diseases and endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, implant dentistry, orthodontics, oral pathology, aesthetic dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, paediatric dentistry, gerodontology, radiology, special needs dentistry and general medicine.
