Experts Call for Risk-Based Periodontal Prevention

New recommendations emphasize individualized use of adjunctive antiseptics when mechanical biofilm control alone may be insufficient.

Category	Detail
Condition	Periodontal diseases
Key Mechanisms	Individualized, risk-based approaches to prevention and management, adjunctive antiseptic mouthrinses.
Target Population	US adults aged 30 years or older, particularly those with difficulty achieving adequate biofilm control.
Care Setting	Multidisciplinary oral health care settings.

42.2% of dentate US adults aged 30 years or older have some degree of periodontitis.
Adjunctive antiseptics may reduce dental biofilm and gingival inflammation when combined with mechanical plaque control.
Certain patient populations may benefit from adjunctive strategies due to local and general factors complicating biofilm control.
Chlorhexidine may be used temporarily during certain phases of periodontal therapy.
Caution is advised for children under 6 and individuals unable to control swallowing.

Use adjunctive antiseptic agents based on individual clinical needs and barriers to effective mechanical biofilm control.

Assess the effectiveness of adjunctive strategies in controlling biofilm and gingival inflammation.

Consider safety for children under 6 and individuals with swallowing difficulties; insufficient studies on pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Patients with periodontal disease and those facing challenges in biofilm control.

Adjunctive antiseptics should not replace mechanical cleaning but provide additional support.

Integrate adjunctive antiseptic strategies into a broader preventive approach.
Focus on mechanical biofilm control, patient education, and professional follow-up.