THIS PAPER IS One Of three in a series prepared by the Research, Scien
ce and Therapy Committee of The American Academy of Periodontology and
is intended for the information of the dental profession. It represen
ts the position of the Academy regarding the current state of knowledg
e about treatment of, gingivitis, and periodontitis. The other papers
are entitled The Etiology and Pathogenesis of Periodontal Diseases(1)
and Diagnosis of Periodontal Diseases.(2).