GUIDELINES FOR REFERRING PATIENTS WITH PERIODONTAL

DISEASE FOR SPECIALTY TREATMENT*

DIAGNOSIS	PROGNOSIS	TREATMENT BY GENERAL PRACTITIONER	REFER TO PERIODONTIST
Gingivitis (Various Forms )	More predictable	Yes	Complex Cases
Adult Periodontitis	More predictable	Yes (Types I-III)	Types III and IV cases
Early-Onset Periodontitis
Prepubertal	Less predictable	No	All cases
Juvenile Periodontitis	Less predictable	Cautious	Most Cases, especially those with moderate-to-advanced attachment loss
Rapidly Progressive	Less predictable	No	All cases
Systemic Associated	Less predictable	Cautious	Complex Cases
Necrotizing Ulcerative	Less predictable	No	All cases
Refractory	Less predictable	No	All cases

*Adapted from McLeod, Dwight E, A Practical Approach to the Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease, JADA 2000; 131(4) 488

The decision to refer patients

to a periodontist primarily

depends on the clinicians

experience and skills in

treating periodontal disease

and the need for multidisciplinary

management of the case. Ibid: 489

DIAGNOSIS