Patients who visit the Web site perio.org now have an interactive tool to help them identify their individual risk for developing periodontal disease. This tool can be accessed at the address perio.org/consumer/4a.html and includes a short questionnaire for patients to complete. Once submitted, a calculation based on the PreViser formula determines whether the patient is at “low, medium, or high risk” for developing periodontal diseases. An individualized profile report appears, including referral recommendations, and all patients have an opportunity to click on the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) patient referral service to locate a periodontist in their area. “There is a possibility that periodontal treatment may significantly improve general health outcomes,” said Preston D. Miller, DDS, president of the AAP. “Given the potential impact on diabetes, prematurity, cardiovascular disease, and other conditions, we believe it is important for patients to understand their risk for periodontal diseases and the current state of their periodontal health. In addition to the potential link to these general health conditions, periodontal diseases remain the most common cause of tooth loss in adults and can compromise a patient’s ability to smile, speak, and eat with comfort and confidence.”
(Source: American Academy of Periodontology, November 13, 2006)
