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The authors describe some aspects of an activity of prevention directed to a target group in a hospital stomatology department. They describe locations and their operative destination; the time of intervention in different phases; the considerations on the efficiency of a program of prevention constant in time.

The paper analyses the opinion and proposals which emerged from a series of meetings held between the local health units, school representatives and the Department of Health of the Veneto Regional Government in the context of a regional plan for oral and dental hygiene aimed at kindergarten and primary school children. In addition to the traditional sensitivity of schools with regard to health-related problems, in the future in would be advantageous to involve families directly at the level of pediatric outpatient clinics (in order to create an adequate clinical back-up), thus removing dental care from a strictly educational context.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate, on a longitudinal basis, the effectiveness of a specific preventive dental program for patients who are taking phenytoin for seizure control. The results confirm that a preventive dental program, consisting on frequent prophylaxis and plaque control, is effective in minimizing clinically gingival enlargement associated with phenytoin therapy, even in patients who present histological aspects of gingival hyperplasia.

The success of orthodontic treatment depends, in part, upon the oral hygienic status of the patient and his active cooperation in the treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review the organization of a dental hygiene program in the orthodontic practice. Before treatment the dental hygienists should motivate the patient, teach him plaque control techniques, and remove hard and soft deposits; she can organize the gathering of documents necessary to the orthodontist to study the case. The author describes the components of the recall appointment, that must take place frequently during treatment; and suggests technical hints useful for the organization of a maintenance program after treatment.

Applying the basics of preventive dentistry at the primary level will broaden the scope of prenatal care. Dentists should encourage all patients of childbearing age to seek oral health counseling and examination as soon as they learn they are pregnant. Specific printed information on oral hygiene, plaque control, nutrition and tooth development should be available for pregnant patients. Emergency problem should be alleviated immediately. Indicated medications should not be with held because of pregnancy but patients must be informed of benefits and risks. Consultation with the patient's physician is always appropriate.

The prognosis of any prosthetic appliance, fixed or removable, depends on a good daily oral hygiene combined with a periodical maintenance therapy. The dental hygienist has the particular duty to educate and motivate the patient in order to provide a good plaque control and to observe regular recall appointments. During each recall the hygienist teaches the patient an individual oral hygiene homecare and performs an appropriate oral prophylaxis (scaling, rootplaning and polishing of the teeth). Cooperation among the dentist, the hygienist and the patient is essential to insure a successful prosthetic treatment.

A retrospective longitudinal study was performed to assess the effectiveness of tetracycline therapy associated with root planing compared with root planing alone in patients affected by medium to severe periodontal disease. From an analysis of results it appeared that the combined therapy was generally more successful, even though statistical significance was only achieved in cases of healing angular bone lesions. In conclusion, larger studies should be carried out to contribute to broaden the spectrum of indications for the use of antibiotic therapy in periodontal disease in adults.

An analysis of general periodontal treatment carried out in the Departement of Cardiology, Periodontology and Preventive Dental Medicine of the University of Zurich, Dental Institute was undertaken with the aid of 50 randomly selected patient case histories. Immediately following therapy, it was found that a normal marginal periodontium had been established in all cases. A prerequisite for this success was effective patient oral hygiene. The duration of total treatment depended upon diagnosis and treatment plan and ranged from 18 to 62 h. Documentation of each phase of treatment was responsible for a significant part of the total therapy time. In view of the relatively large amount of time necessary to treat periodontal disease, future emphasis should be placed upon the refinement and propagation of preventive measures.

After a careful review of literature Authors consider from a critical point of view efficacy of surgical versus non surgical therapy in one case of Rapidly Progressive Parodontitis. Data collected two years after the treatment have not shown significant differences between the two kinds of therapy.

The authors schematically describe the possibility of specialistic sanitary intervention in prevention, primary secondary and tertiary. They, furthermore, discuss of the real possibility of dietetical and pharmacological prophylaxis with special regard to the proper use and on the mechanism of action of fluorine and other chemical antiplaque agents.

The AA, take into consideration the preventive aspect of the care to patients bearer of handicap, affirming with insistence that a good campaign of information and a good prevention applied particularly by colleagues of others medical branches (Paediatrists, Phonotrists, Neurosurgeons, Logopaedists, etc.) can favour the conservative oral care more than the extractive care.

The purpose of the present investigation was to test concept that initial treatment is effectual to maintain gingival health. The principal local aging factor is represented by plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation. The results of this study have proved that initial treatment is effectual only on pockets measuring less than 4 mm to periodontal probing. Instead a surgical periodontal treatment is requested and more indicated on pocket depths measuring about or more than 6 mm to periodontal probing.