Long‐term periodontal maintenance in private practice

Adult periodontitis is a chronic disease suffered by the mainstream of the world's population. To date, its treatment consists of providing support, control, and stabilization of the disease rather than a cure. Although treatment modalities rely upon a maintenance program to preserve a controlled environment that has been established, it is painstakingly evident that total patient compliance does not exceed 40% in private practice. In addition, there is little evidence that any society is populated by plaque-free patients. The important variables in private practice are the end point goals of treatment, manpower availability, patient behavior, the size of the treatment facility and the economic pressures of the geographic location. Each of these has to be considered in its entirety to appreciate the difficulties encountered in managing this significant issue in a periodontal practice.