An audit on periodontal assessment in general dental practice

Thorough periodontal assessment is vital for diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring the progression of periodontal disease. This is a report of a clinical audit that studied the periodontal assessment carried out at a large general dental practice in Shropshire, England. This audit was conducted over a 3-month period, analysing 700 patients for each audit cycle. A new protocol for periodontal assessment using the guidelines of the British Society of Periodontology was introduced. The results demonstrate a marked improvement in assessing the periodontal condition of patients in this general dental practice.