Periodontal diseases are complex disorders associated with multiple risk factors and are triggered by accumulation of dental plaque biofilms. The body's inflammatory and immune responses result in the destruction of the soft and hard tissues supporting the teeth. Patients can reduce their risk for periodontal diseases and control periodontal disease progression by reducing dental plaque through a daily oral hygiene regimen of brushing, flossing and using an ADA-accepted antiplaque/antigingivitis mouth rinse.

Ira B. Lamster, DDS, MMSc
INTRODUCTION
The panel will address dental plaque biofilm and its link to the body's immune response, the important role of antimicrobial mouth rinses in controlling dental plaque, the safety of antimicrobial mouth rinses and how to effectively assess your patients' periodontal risk. It will help you provide recommendations to help your patients prevent and control the progression of periodontal diseases.


Sebastian Ciancio, DDS
TO RINSE OR NOT TO RINSE? THAT IS THE QUESTION
Rationale for use of antimicrobial mouth rinses is based on inadequacy of biofilm control by patients and the ability for effective products to reach bacterial areas throughout the mouth. Essential to this concept is adherence to brush, floss, rinse.

Learning Outcomes:
1. Understand rationale for daily mouth rinse use
2. Understand evaluation of efficacy
3. Learn principles of motivation for compliance


Peter Jacobsen, PhD, DDS
GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE! ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN MOUTH RINSES
Mouth rinses contain ingredients characterized by the FDA as GRAS compounds (Generally Recognized As Safe). Understanding these ingredients will allow you to understand and choose among the vast array of different mouth rinses used to control plaque, gingivitis and halitosis.

Learning Outcomes:
1. Definitions of safety and efficacy
2. Choose an active ingredient
3. Understand FDA classifications


Rebecca Wilder, RDH, MS
INCREASING ADHERENCE WITH HOMECARE REGIMENS TO IMPROVE ORAL HEALTH
Getting patients to adhere to an oral homecare routine is one of the challenges we face in dentistry. This portion of the panel presentation will discuss what we can say and do to increase patient acceptance of our recommendations.

Learning Outcomes:
1. Discuss the theory behind compliance/adherence
2. Discuss oral health regimens that increase patient adherence
3. Discuss oral care recommendations for your patients


J. William Costerton, MA, PhD
BIOFILMS IN THE ORAL ENVIRONMENT
Biofilms are formed on all surfaces in aqueous environments. Each surface accretes a specific biofilm and teeth are colonized by supra-gingival biofilms that may promote caries, and sub-gingival biofilms that may promote gingivitis and periodontitis. Root canals are also colonized by biofilms.

Learning Outcomes:
1. Recognize biofilms
2. Learn to remove biofilms
3. Understand biofilm resistance to antimicrobials

This course is underwritten by a grant from Johnson & Johnson Oral Health Products.