Author Description

The goal of periodontal therapy is to establish and maintain the dentition and periodontium in health, comfort and function with optimal esthetics throughout the lifetime of the patient. This represents a modification in the thought processes of many dentists because the “dentition” now includes both natural teeth and dental implants. Although treatment parameters still include the basics of health, comfort and function, “esthetics” has recently become an integral portion of the overall goal. Most patients will not accept periodontal treatment without the perception of an acceptable esthetic outcome. The addition of “optimal esthetics” to the goal of periodontal therapy parallels a paradigm shift in all of dentistry. The search for beauty can be traced to the earliest civilizations. Dental art has long been part of the quest to enhance the esthetics of the teeth & mouth.