Surgical periodontal therapy: indications, selection and limitations.

The goal of all periodontal therapy is to restore health and function to the periodontium and preserve the teeth for life. A variety of periodontal surgical procedures have been described to meet this goal in patients with periodontitis. The differences among procedures are not always clear and in many instances represent technical variations of a previously established method. A review of longitudinal studies of periodontal surgery suggests that the particular method employed is less important than thorough debridement of the diseased area, frequent professional care and excellent oral hygiene practices by the patient. Under these conditions, periodontal disease can be controlled irrespective of the method of surgical therapy.