Home care therapy is indispensable to manage periodontal disease successfully. Often, during and following initial periodontal treatment, it is unclear how much of the clinical improvement was due to patients’ home care or to professional intervention, as these two therapeutic components are often amalgamated in clinical practice as well as in studies. In this case series, four patients with periodontal disease received education on using oral hygiene devices and used them competently prior to initiation of professional periodontal treatment. The changes in their clinical presentations, solely attributed to their home care therapy, were documented. The rationale and suggested clinical guidelines are also presented.
Conclusion: Home care therapy is an indispensable but often overlooked step in the successful management of periodontal diseases. Ideally, this step should be solidified prior to proceeding with any professional treatment. By motivating patients to participate in the treatment more actively, clinicians can significantly improve the outcome and longevity of their professional interventions.
Keywords: bone loss, caries, dental plaque, gingivitis, oral hygiene, periodontitis
