If a patient shows reduced probing depths after SRP but still has mobility in mandibular anterior teeth, what is the next step in treatment?

If a patient shows reduced probing depths after SRP but still has mobility in mandibular anterior teeth, what is the next step in treatment?

• A. GTR or perio eval
• B. Antibiotic therapy
• C. Surgical intervention
• D. Maintenance therapy

Answer: (A)

In this scenario, the patient has shown an improvement in probing depths following scaling and root planing (SRP), which indicates that some level of periodontal healing has occurred. However, the presence of mobility in the mandibular anterior teeth suggests that there is still an underlying issue, potentially related to bone loss or periodontal attachment loss. The appropriate next step in treatment is to conduct a periodontal evaluation to assess the extent of the mobility and underlying periodontal status. This evaluation will help determine whether there are additional factors contributing to the mobility, such as furcation involvement, and whether regenerative procedures like guided tissue regeneration (GTR) might be indicated to promote the repair of periodontal tissues and enhance the stability of the affected teeth. GTR is a specialized procedure that can help to regenerate lost periodontal tissues, thereby addressing the mobility issue. Careful evaluation can also provide insights into the need for additional treatments, such as surgery or even a combination of approaches based on the specifics of the patient's condition. Given that the probing depths have improved already, further surgical intervention might be premature without a comprehensive assessment. Other options, such as antibiotic therapy, may not be warranted unless there is evidence of an active infection, while maintenance therapy could be part of a longer-term strategy but does not directly

In this scenario, the patient has shown an improvement in probing depths following scaling and root planing (SRP), which indicates that some level of periodontal healing has occurred. However, the presence of mobility in the mandibular anterior teeth suggests that there is still an underlying issue, potentially related to bone loss or periodontal attachment loss.

The appropriate next step in treatment is to conduct a periodontal evaluation to assess the extent of the mobility and underlying periodontal status. This evaluation will help determine whether there are additional factors contributing to the mobility, such as furcation involvement, and whether regenerative procedures like guided tissue regeneration (GTR) might be indicated to promote the repair of periodontal tissues and enhance the stability of the affected teeth.

GTR is a specialized procedure that can help to regenerate lost periodontal tissues, thereby addressing the mobility issue. Careful evaluation can also provide insights into the need for additional treatments, such as surgery or even a combination of approaches based on the specifics of the patient's condition. Given that the probing depths have improved already, further surgical intervention might be premature without a comprehensive assessment.

Other options, such as antibiotic therapy, may not be warranted unless there is evidence of an active infection, while maintenance therapy could be part of a longer-term strategy but does not directly