Managing treatment for the orthodontic patient with periodontal problems.

Some adult patients have mild to moderate periodontal disease before orthodontic treatment. These patients may be at risk of developing further periodontal breakdown during orthodontic therapy. However, careful diagnosis and judicious management of these potentially volatile patients can alleviate the risk. In this article, the diagnosis and management of several periodontal problems is discussed. The need for and timing of preorthodontic periodontal surgery for these situations is elucidated. In addition, the types of tooth movement that will ameliorate these problematic situations is described. This information is valuable for the orthodontist who treats patients with underlying periodontal problems.