EDITORIAL The BDJ Upfront section includes editorials,

letters, news, book reviews and interviews. UPFRONT BDJ Please direct your correspondence to the News Editor, Kate Quinlan at the BDJ, PERIODONTITIS – The Macmillan Building, 4 Crinan Street, London, N1 9XW or by email to [email protected] Press releases or articles may be edited, THE NEW CARIES? and should include a colour photograph if possible. Francis Hughes Professor of , King's College London Guest Editor, BDJ themed issue on periodontology

t is with pleasure that I intro- 'Clinical also in terms of function, comfort, Preshaw discuss the relationship of duce this themed edition on care path- aesthetics and self esteem. diabetes and . periodontology. I hope that you Thirdly, it is clear that we as dental Gerry Linden and Mark Ide provide I ways are will find it informative, thought professionals can genuinely do some- a fascinating historical insight into provoking and clinically useful, and set to place thing about the condition. Time and the focal sepsis concept and review I would like to thank my colleagues periodontal time again periodontal treatment has the evidence for the links between who have written contributions. been shown to be highly effective periodontitis, cardiovascular disease It might just be the musings of a care centre in preventing long-term tooth loss and obstetric complications. Nikos paranoid periodontist, but I have long stage...' and reversing many of the condi- Donos and Elena Calciolari consider had the impression that the practice tion's other adverse effects. There is how medical history may affect of periodontology is not always at a disturbing trend in some circles to placement. the top of the pile of preferred disci- propose extraction and replacement In addition, Raitapuro-Murray and plines for many general dentists. with dental implants for teeth that colleagues report on the prevalence Indeed, even Stephen Hancocks have signs of periodontal disease of periodontitis in a Roman-Britain has previously written an engaging (and other conditions). In fact the population. Their, perhaps surprising, leader entitled Periodontal disease long-term data strongly refute this findings, suggest that despite the – who cares?.1 However, it is increas- premise and readers are urged to read absence of modern aids, ingly clear that progressive, destruc- the recent seminal paper comparing dental awareness and access to dental tive periodontitis presents specific long-term survival rates of implants professionals, the prevalence of problems with distinct aetiological and periodontal treatment.2 As one moderate to severe periodontitis was factors from those of simple gingival of the great gurus of modern peri- significantly less than today. These periodontal inflammation. odontology, Professor Jan Lindhe, findings emphasise the complex aeti- This matters for a number of suggests in an interview in this issue, ology of progressive periodontitis. reasons. Firstly, it is a very common implants are often great for replacing There is a lot going on in perio- condition. The Adult Dental Health missing teeth, but are absolutely not dontology at present. Plans for clin- Survey 2009 contains very mixed a treatment for periodontal disease. ical care pathways for the new GDS news about its prevalence. In The two themes of this BDJ are contract look set to place periodontal particular the amount of severe peri- broadly based around the conse- care centre stage. The European odontitis has actually increased by quences of periodontal diseases and Federation of Periodontology have nearly 50% over the past ten years. the theme of periodontal medicine. launched a campaign to raise aware- The reasons for this are undoubtedly Paul Batchelor provides a ness and in the midst of it all, in the complex but are likely, at least in thoughtful, testing, sometimes UK we are hosting what is expected part, due to dentists extracting fewer bordering on polemic, opinion article to be the largest European meeting teeth, but also due to an increas- on whether periodontal disease ever in periodontology and implant ingly ageing population, with more should be considered a significant dentistry, EuroPerio8, in London complicated medical histories. public health problem. Gareth Grif- next June, with over 8,000 general Secondly, we are beginning to fiths provides a challenging article dentists, specialists and hygienists have a much better understanding on the issue of manpower planning expected from all over the world. of the impacts of periodontitis. In modelled on epidemiological data and Perhaps now would be an excellent medical research someone had the national guidelines for parameters time to brush up on your expertise in brilliant idea of asking patients about of care. Ian Needleman contributes a the subject. I do very much hope you their condition as part of the research typically helpful blueprint for public enjoy this themed edition of the BDJ. process, and this has now become and patient involvement in research. 1. Hancocks S. Periodontal disease – who important throughout the medical Periodontal medicine concerns the cares? Editorial. Br Dent J 2011; 210: 555. (and dental) research communities. two-way relationship between peri- 2. Levin L, Halperin-Sternfeld M Tooth We learn that periodontitis is not odontitis and systemic health. Peter preservation or implant replacement: A systematic review of long-term tooth and a silent disease, but has significant Heasman discusses the effects of implant survival rates. J Am Dent Assoc impacts on patients’ quality of life, medications on periodontal and oral 2013; 144: 1119–1113 not just in terms of tooth loss, but health. Leticia Casanova and Philip DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.913

BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL VOLUME 217 NO. 8 OCT 24 2014 387

© 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved