Risk Assessment of Periodontal Disease

Risk assessment is the foundation stone for prevention, employing the latest evidence base to identify those patients who have a higher likelihood of developing a specific disease, then providing them with enhanced preventive care pathways. A key aspect involves persuading at risk people that they differ from the rest of the population and therefore have to work harder, both with their clinician and in their personal behaviours and home care strategies, if they wish to lower their risk of that disease developing. Within the field of oral health, of the available risk assessment systems, periodontal risk assessment holds pride of place.