Oral Irrigation for Chronic Periodontitis

By Timothy J. Hempton, DDS

Oral irrigation — when used as an adjunctive self-care strategy—is effective in helping patients manage chronic periodontitis. However, some oral health professionals approach such a recommendation with hesitation. A concern I often hear from other periodontists is that the degree of inflammation associated with a periodontal abscess, ANUG, or ANUP increases the fragility of the soft tissues, making oral irrigation risky. It is true that severe inflammation can make the soft tissues more fragile, and these soft tissues may be more susceptible to trauma from the pulses of water from a mechanical oral irrigator. As a result, recommending an oral irrigator as adjunctive therapy in treatment of these acute clinical conditions may not be beneficial.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
Read Article